Celebration as killer pesticide Endosulfan ban goes global

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Environmental and food safety organisations internationally are celebrating the global phase out of the DDT-like organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan. New Zealand NGOs, Soil & Health Association, Pesticide Action Network – Aotearoa New Zealand, and Safe Food Campaign along with the Green Party had for many years called for the banning of endosulfan, and a reassessment by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) in 2008 finished the legal use of endosulfan in New Zealand two years ago.

“New Zealand anti-pesticide campaigner Dr Meriel Watts’ part in the international action that has had endosulfan added to the Stockholm Convention’s list of banned substances, deserves recognition,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Dr Watts has put significant work in nationally and internationally to reduce exposure of humanity and the environment to these unnecessary pesticides, and will have improved the lives of very many people in the process.”

“Pesticide use in New Zealand continues unabated however, and for every neurotoxic, carcinogenic, and endocrine disrupting pesticide like endosulfan that is banned, New Zealand regulatory authorities such as ERMA, New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Regional and District Councils, with the support of the Ministers of Health, Food Safety, Environment, Conservation and Agriculture, continue to allow other new and old pesticides to soak our lands, waterways and food stuffs.”

“It took decades of advocacy, and threats to New Zealand export access, to have endosulfan removed from use, but resistance by commercial and regulatory agencies, with theoretical economic imperatives leading over precaution and safety warnings, will have damaged the lives of many. The same culture persists.”

“Where is Aotearoa New Zealand’s pesticide reduction policy? Where is Government support, for the NGO’s and advocates for a greener, safer environment and food chain? This year, Prime Minister John Key’s ‘Tourism Of New Zealand’ dropped its 100% Pure New Zealand strap-line, this needs to be revisited. Continual pesticide reduction should be part of a nuclear free, GE free, clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand vision.”

Soil & Health – Organic NZ continues to advocate for a radical reduction in pesticide use in a clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand in an Organic 2020.

KILLER PESTICIDE ENDOSULFAN TO BE PHASED OUT GLOBALLY

GENEVA: The nations of the world, gathered in Geneva this week, agreed to add endosulfan, an antiquated persistent insecticide, to the Stockholm Convention’s list of banned substances. Environmental health and justice organizations from around the world who have been working towards a ban welcomed the decision.

The use of endosulfan has severely impacted the people of Kerala, India, where its use on cashew plantations has left thousands suffering from birth defects, mental retardation, and cancer. “This is the moment we have been dreaming of,” says Jayan Chelaton from Thanal, a public interest research group based in Kerala. “The tears of the mothers of the endosulfan victims cannot be remedied, but it will be a relief to them that there will not be any more people exposed to this toxic insecticide. It is a good feeling for them. We are happy to note that this is also victory for poor farmers, as this proves people united from all over the world can get what they demand.”

Because of its persistence, bioaccumulation, and mobility, endosulfan, like DDT, travels on wind and ocean currents. It has travelled as far as the Arctic where it has contaminated the environment and the traditional foods of the people there. “We are pleased with the decision of the global community today to phase out this dangerous chemical that has contaminated our traditional foods in the Arctic. Our people are some of the most contaminated on the planet.” said Vi Waghiyi, a Yupik woman from St. Lawrence Island (Alaska) and the Environmental Health and Justice Program Director with Alaska Community Action on Toxics. “But until all manufacturing and uses of endosulfan are eliminated, this pesticide will continue to harm our peoples, so we urge all countries to rapidly implement safer alternatives and eliminate their last few uses of endosulfan.”

For most uses the ban will take effect in a year, but use on a short list of crop-pest combinations will be phased out over a six-year period. “With a plethora of alternatives already available, we’d have preferred to see no exemptions included in the decision.  But we were successful in restricting exemptions to specific combinations of crops and pests. This means that during the phase-out it can only be used in very specific situations,” said Karl Tupper, a staff scientist from Pesticide Action Network North America who attended the deliberations.

Endosulfan, a DDT-era pesticide, is one of the most toxic pesticides still in use today. Each year, it took the lives of dozens of African cotton farmers until recently being banned by most countries on the continent. Hundreds of farmers in the developing world still use it to commit suicide each year.

“The health of Indigenous Peoples around the world, including our Yaqui communities in Mexico, are directly and adversely impacted when these kinds of toxic chemicals are applied, usually without their knowledge or informed consent. This phase out is an important step forward for Indigenous Peoples adversely affected both at the source of application and in the Arctic where these toxics ultimately end up,” said Andrea Carmen, Executive Director of International Indian Treaty Council and coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Global Caucus at the meeting.

According to Javier Souza, Coordinator of Pesticide Action Network Latin America, “This phase out of endosulfan provides an excellent opportunity for countries to implement non-chemical alternatives to pesticides and to strengthen and expand agroecological practices. National phase out efforts should be open to the participation of experts from academia, farmer organizations, and environmental groups with experience.”

Momentum for a global ban has been building for many years. “Endosulfan was first proposed for addition in the Convention in 2007. At that time about 50 countries had already banned it; today, more than 80 countries have banned it or announced phase-outs. NGOs have worked very hard to make this happen,” says Meriel Watts, senior science advisor, from Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific. “But today’s decision is really a tribute to all those farmers, communities, and activists across the planet who have suffered from endosulfan and fought for this day. It is especially a tribute to the thousands in the state of Kerala, India, whose health has suffered so terribly from endosulfan, to the inspirational leadership of Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, and to the many other people there who have all fought for their rights and for a global ban on endosulfan.”

“We are delighted with this decision as it means agricultural workers, Indigenous Peoples and communities across the globe will finally be protected from this poisonous pollutant,” says Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, CoChair of IPEN – International POP (Persistent Organic Phosphates) Elimination Network. “The UN’s own scientific body had clearly shown that endosulfan is a POP, despite the recent vocal claims by some. Endosulfan contaminates the Arctic food chain and Antarctic krill, poisons our farmers, and pollutes our breastmilk. It was clearly time for endosulfan to go and it now joins the same fate as old POP pesticides like dieldrin and heptachlor, banned once and for all. It is essential that all POP should be eliminated and this global ban will provide the much needed legal protection.”

Available for Interviews:

· Karl Tupper, Pesticide Action Network North America, karl@panna.org, +1 415-981-1771 (USA)

· Dr. Mariann Lloyd-Smith, International POPS Elimination Network, biomap@oztoxics.org; +61 41-362-1557 (Australia)

· Dr. Meriel Watts, Pesticide Action Network North America Asia and the Pacific, merielwatts@xtra.co.nz; +64 21-1807830. (New Zealand)

· Vi Waghiyi, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, vi@akaction.net, +1 907-222-7714 (USA)

· Jayakumar Chelaton, Thanal, jayakumar.c@gmail.com

· Andrea Carmen, International Indian Treaties Council, andrea@treatycouncil.org

Javier Souza, Red de Acción en Plaguicidas y sus Alternativas para América Latina, javierrapal@yahoo.com.ar

PGP methyl bromide research fails to consider port communities health

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The Soil & Health Association joins Environment  Minister Nick Smith in welcoming the $2.5 million Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) funding,  for applied research into alternatives to log fumigation with methyl bromide, and the release of the neurotoxic and carcinogenic gas to the atmosphere.  However Soil & Health is scathing of the amount and the length of the research.

“People are dying from exposure to methyl bromide, and New Zealand’s significant use of the ozone depleting gas is expected to triple during the five year period that this trickle of funding is spread,” said Soil & Health-Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Economic reasons should be the last basis for action, after health and environment. This funding should be significantly increased for rapid implementation of existing alternatives, not the sham of further, although applied, research.”

“This PGP funding initiative publicity, by government and Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction (STIMBR), totally ignored the immediate health risks to local communities and port workers of New Zealand, and instead focused on broad environmental effects and economic savings that the forest industry might make when it is forced to meet its international responsibilities to stop the release of methyl bromide into the atmosphere.”

“Communities around New Zealand, especially at log exporting ports are at immediate health risk from cancers and neurological disorders such as motor neurone disease. The global community in turn shares the negative effects from enhanced ultra violet radiation as the ozone layer is depleted.”

“The Environment Minister and I have been reported as agreeing, that Port Marlborough and the Marlborough District Council should be getting on with recapture of methyl bromide gas rather than wasting money on monitoring for the gas,” said Mr Browning.

“Monitoring only shows if the invisible, odourless and tasteless gas happens to be where the monitoring equipment is, or is not.”

“ Monitoring has no way of predicting where it might be going and the installation of monitors such as the Marlborough District Council and Environment Bay of Plenty intend, are just sops to the anxious communities they represent.”

“Recapture technology exists. Research is not the main issue, but the capital cost of immediate up scaling is being delayed.”

“The funding arrangement based on economic imperatives primarily, comes as no surprise when the forestry representative on the Primary Growth Partnership had come from Global Forest Partners. Global Forest Partners, a USA based investment fund, are also responsible for wholly owned subsidiary Nelson Forests Ltd part in mudslide devastation around forestry harvest areas in the top of the South Island.”

Primary production in New Zealand needs to be treated holistically, and forestry needs a cradle to grave environmental footprint analysis done urgently.

Forestry could be genuinely sustainable, and there are some very good existing examples, but the large scale land disturbance, herbicide use, water quality and biodiversity losses, transport and fumigation effects that Global Forest Partners, Nelson Forests Ltd, and much of the forestry industry are responsible for, needs to be assessed before supposed economic gains are championed.”

“STIMBR has to their credit, included human health in its estimate of the economic value of reduced methyl bromide emissions effect on the ozone layer, however dodges the effects on their very own communities now.”

The global economic value of reduced methyl bromide emissions through the avoidance of its impact on ozone depletion in the atmosphere on human health and avoided damage to agriculture, fisheries and materials has been estimated at around $3,700 per tonne of methyl bromide not released.

“Human health affects in New Zealanders will includes cancers and motor neurone disease from exposure to methyl bromide gas, not just the acknowledged effects from ozone depletion,” said Mr Browning.

Soil & Health – Organic NZ have a vision of an organic clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand where human health and the environment are put before economic greed. Soil & Health – Organic NZ support initiatives for multi-species forests and farm woodlots, value adding logs into end products in New Zealand, and the rapid implementation of alternatives to toxic chemicals.

Notes:

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/methyl-bromide-research-funding-welcomed

http://www.maf.govt.nz/Portals/0/Documents/agriculture/assist-funding/pgp/media-bkgrnd-stimbr.pdf

New Zealand has an obligation under the Montreal Protocol to: refrain from use of methyl bromide and to use non-ozone-depleting technologies wherever possible. Where methyl bromide is used, Parties are urged to minimise emissions and use of methyl bromide through containment and recovery and recycling methodologies to the extent possible;

Picton’s residents face gas for Nelson’s logs again

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Tonnes of neurotoxic and ozone depleting fumigant methyl bromide gas will again be released from the 169m ship Eastern Star’s hold at Picton’s Shakespeare Bay wharf tonight, and tomorrow evening (28 January) more tonnes of the gas will be released from under the 13 wharf side tarpaulins covering approximately 9000 tons of logs destined for India. (1)

Methyl bromide gas is used as a phytosanitary control for import-exports, with log fumigations primarily targeting two pine beetles.

Port Nelson has stringent rules that would mean logs fumigated there would need the fumigant gas recaptured, as happens for some other cargos such as sawn timber. However because it is cheaper to avoid setting up a log fumigant recapture facility there, Nelson logs are being shipped to Port Marlborough’s Shakespeare Bay facility for fumigation with Marlborough logs, according to the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand.

“To make matters worse, Marlborough sawn timber for other markets but previously fumigated using the recapture system in Nelson, are being trucked to Port Lyttelton where it is cheaper to fumigate and release to the Lyttelton environment,” said Soil & Health-Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Port Nelson methyl bromide fumigation was subject to an Environment Court hearing that studiously looked at the exposure risks of the invisible, tasteless and odourless gas. There is nothing different from Nelson in the risk profile of Picton or Lyttelton.”

“The New Zealand timber industry is stalling from its global ozone hole responsibility and releasing a neurotoxic, carcinogenic gas next to port communities throughout New Zealand.”

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) following a reassessment of methyl bromide use and controls last year decided that methyl bromide use to be subject to recapture within a decade, although finding that recapture would only be a cost of 2.7% of current log values.(2)

This was in part due to large scale recapture facilities not being trialled in New Zealand, but Europe has banned the release of methyl bromide gas and most of the world is quickly finding alternatives to meet the Montreal Protocol agreement in reducing ozone depleting gases. ERMA were clear that local authorities may require more stringent safeguards than in their decision, but none have seriously actioned any proposals for change. (3,4)

Export log fumigations account for more than 80% of the methyl bromide used in New Zealand. Although originally aiming to phase out the use of methyl bromide gas by 2010 as part of the ozone-focused Montreal Protocol, New Zealand is now using more than 10 times the amount of methyl bromide gas than it was in 2001, and expects to be exporting 3 times the current log volumes in 5 years.

“The spike in New Zealand logs in 5 years will be an international disgrace if fumigation gases are not recaptured by then,” said Mr Browning.

“Is this another reason why Prime Minister and tourism Minister John Key’s Christmas present to New Zealand was the dropping of the very successful 100% Pure New Zealand branding that we were all so proud to be striving to make real?” (5)

“Local communities subject to toxic methyl bromide drift, and the global community that is fighting against climate change, need New Zealand industry and government to establish recapture facilities immediately, or stop using methyl bromide all together.”

Soil & Health – Organic NZ have a vision of an organic Aotearoa New Zealand where sustainably grown timber and other exports use environmentally benign phytosanitary measures fitting with a strategy for a clean green 100% Pure New Zealand.

Notes:

(1)      Photograph included in this post available for media

(2)    http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/news-events/methylbromide/index.html
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/BertDocs/HRC08002_Methyl%20Bromide%20decision.pdf

(3)    New Zealand has an obligation under the Montreal Protocol to: refrain from use of methyl bromide and to use non-ozone-depleting technologies wherever possible. Where methyl bromide is used, Parties are urged to minimise emissions and use of methyl bromide through containment and recovery and recycling methodologies to the extent possible;

(4)    The Committee notes the concerns of Nelson City Council which suggested that the minimum buffer zones proposed in the reassessment application may conflict with local requirements under the RMA. It is very important to emphasise that these minimum buffer zones do not preclude regional councils, unitary authorities or port authorities from setting more stringent controls (e.g. larger buffer zones) if they deem them necessary because of local conditions. The Committee notes that section 142(3) of the Act specifically envisages situations where a local authority may choose to impose more stringent requirements on the use of a hazardous substance than that required under the Act.

http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/news-and-features/news/tourism-new-zealand-unveils-100-percent-pure-you
http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/news-and-features/news/new-zealand-third-strongest-brand

100% Pure New Zealand has been used to promote New Zealand as a tourism destination since 1999. Last November, New Zealand was ranked the third strongest country brand in the world by FutureBrands Country Brand Index.

MAF allow Kate Valley Landfill to become New Zealand’s next GE contaminated site

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MAF has allowed Kate Valley Landfill to become New Zealand’s next GE contaminated site, while dodging testing for GE contamination of  more rogue brassica plants at Plant & Food Research’s Lincoln GE brassica field trial site, although MAF’s own rules demanded testing, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ, and GE Free NZ in food and environment.

Soil & Health and GE Free NZ have monitored Plant & Food Research’s genetically engineered (GE) brassica trial site at Lincoln for further contamination following discovering a flowering GE kale there in 2008.

Following their investigation in 2009 which found that other GE brassica had also flowered in 2008, MAF, through a Compliance Order, had then set strict requirements including the testing for GE of all brassica found growing at the site following cultivations beginning in spring and summer 2010, and for 5 years of monitoring after the last brassica seedling was found.

“In spring 2010 Plant & Food Research and MAF agreed to dig out soil likely to be contaminated with GE brassica seed and deep bury it, but ten days ago we have found that another brassica has still emerged,” said Soil & Health-Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“MAF and Plant & Food Research have said they did not need to test for GE because the brassica photographed was a different species to the oleracea used in the trial crop, but they ignored the controls previously set down and the ability of brassica to cross between species, because MAF want to let Plant & Food reduce monitoring to one year rather than the 5 years originally set.”

“They have messed up again and both are now trying to dodge their responsibilities.”

“Soil & Health-Organic NZ photographs from December show the MAF supervised soil removal has clearly spilt soil and seed back into the cleared plot, and all brassica in the plot and surrounding area must be tested for GE contamination for at least 5 years. MAF must stop chopping and changing rules to suit those responsible for one of New Zealand’s worst GE breaches.”

Plant & Food’s spokesman said that what they believe to be a wild turnip was likely to have blown in as seed, although a 2008 trial report stated that wild turnip were already growing there, and MAF’s 2009 investigation said that pollen from the site would unlikely to have been blown more than two metres.

“They can’t have it both ways. These duplicitous statements from MAF and Plant & Food, with earlier support by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), show a need for an independent look at GE risk management in New Zealand,” said Mr Browning.

GE Free NZ in food and environment Inc and Soil & Health-Organic NZ agree that contaminated sites need careful management but creating another contaminated site should only be through a public consultation process.

“The assurances that this toxic GE soil has been properly disposed of are meaningless if the previous GE incidents are an example” said Claire Bleakley President of GE Free NZ.

“This breached site has become a bungled set of untrustworthy and duplicitous platitudes.  The strict protocols, that the public was assured are in place, are being changed and broken at every turn.”

“The removal of GE contaminated soil to Kate Valley landfill, North Canterbury is of concern. The toxic mix of pesticides and GE exudate loaded Plant & Food Research soil from Lincoln, could become mixed with the other highly injurious residues of almost everything imaginable, including multiple chemicals, food processing, hospitality, hospital and veterinary waste, further threatening the environment.”

“Landfill dumps are commonly associated with vermin that burrow into the soil living on the detritus that collects there.  Landfills are a reservoir of contamination, and the movement of any GE contaminated soil not only threatens the countryside but also threatens the health of the community. It is not known where the soil was placed and if it is not totally isolated and clearly marked it could be mistakenly used as fill or leach into the surrounding country side.”

“I shared the concerns of North Canterbury residents when the Kate Valley landfill was first proposed. Never did I think it would also be a site for GE contamination,” said Mr Browning.

“Plant & Food Research must not consider that scraping a foot of soil off a GE site is somehow going to render the site uncontaminated. Horizontal gene transfer associated with genetic engineering has clearly and irresponsibly not been part of the thinking.”

Soil & Health-Organic NZ and GE Free NZ promote organic production and share a vision of an organic Aotearoa New Zealand. With no shortage of brassica species available, no genetic engineering is necessary, neither is contamination of soils. The certified organic properties both in Lincoln and near Kate Valley deserve the expertise that Plant & Food Research and MAF, away from GE, can offer for the growth in organics in New Zealand.

Methyl bromide decision equals toxic business as usual

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The reassessment decision today by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) of the toxic and ozone depleting fumigant methyl bromide, disappointingly means business as usual for the timber industry and exporter-importers for up to 10 years according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ.(1)

Methyl bromide gas is used primarily as a pest control fumigant for imported and exported goods with New Zealand’s increasing log exports being the largest user. New Zealand has an obligation under the Montreal Protocol On Substances That Deplete The Ozone Layer to minimize methyl bromide emissions and recover and recycle to the extent possible, but Soil & Health – Organic NZ believe that by leaving a 10 year window of use, ERMA’s decision is minimal in recognition of the severely damaging effect methyl bromide has on climate change.(2)

Specific points regarding the decision

·         Buffer zones as little as zero and 10 metres from communities.

·         ERMA has downplayed potential risks to human health.

·         No stenching agent for smell detection of the odourless, invisible gas.

·         No transitional reduction targets until mandatory recapture in 10 years.

·         Recapture of gas would only cost 2.7% of current log exports value.

·         Local communities to decide adequate protection for their regions.(3)

·         No air modelling required determining effectiveness of monitoring.

·         Log exports expected to triple within 5 years.

·         Previous common soil fumigant use previously replaced by more toxic methyl iodide.

·         Limited soil use against potato wart in residential areas by MAF-Biosecurity NZ.

“There are no provisions in today’s decision that substantially improve protection of communities or the ozone layer from methyl bromide’s toxic or depleting effects over the next decade,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Infrastructure for the recapture or recycling of methyl bromide could be implemented much sooner. This is a decision based on economics not human or environmental health.”

“Monitoring of the extremely toxic, invisible, odourless and tasteless gas is left to presumptions of where the gas might go and ERMA totally avoided the subject of air modelling in its decision.”

“Buffer zones for communities may be as little as 10 metres from release points of the gas, and just 25 metres for childcare facilities, schools, hospitals or long-term care facilities. Exemptions may be applied for if a buffer is too logistically awkward for a business.”

“ERMA has once again used economics as the driving force for a decision that has grave health implications for workers, communities and the environment; the Environmental Risk Management Authority has once again abdicated its environmental responsibilities and is truly the Economic Risk Management Authority with big business as the primary benefactor.”

“While committing to using increasing amounts of an internationally rejected gas, New Zealand has the engineering capacity and ingenuity to recycle and recapture in a much smaller time frame than that set by ERMA,” said Mr Browning.

‘Clean green 100% Pure Aotearoa New Zealand has made a weak attempt to show it is meeting its global responsibilities by currently imposing a 10 year limit on open release of methyl bromide gas, but in line with the expected tripling of log exports within 5 years, methyl bromide use will significantly increase before any real attempt will be made for recapture.”

Soil & Health – Organic NZ has campaigned for decades against the use of methyl bromide use and has a vision of an Organic 2020.
Notes

(1)   http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/news-events/methylbromide/index.html

(2)    New Zealand has an obligation under the Montreal Protocol to: refrain from use of methyl bromide and to use non-ozone-depleting technologies wherever possible. Where methyl bromide is used, Parties are urged to minimise emissions and use of methyl bromide through containment and recovery and recycling methodologies to the extent possible;

(3)   The Committee notes the concerns of Nelson City Council which suggested that the minimum buffer zones proposed in the reassessment application may conflict with local requirements under the RMA. It is very important to emphasise that these minimum buffer zones do not preclude regional councils, unitary authorities or port authorities from setting more stringent controls (e.g. larger buffer zones) if they deem them necessary because of local conditions. The Committee notes that section 142(3) of the Act specifically envisages situations where a local authority may choose to impose more stringent requirements on the use of a hazardous substance than that required under the Act.

NZ food samples still stacked with pesticide residues

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Joint Media  Release:
Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand
and
Soil & Health Association of New  Zealand (Est. 1941), Publishers of ORGANIC NZ

——  ——

  • Pesticide residues found in 93% of targeted fruit and vege samples
  • Prohibited endosulfan again in cucumber samples
  • 11 out of 23 Pak choi samples with residues exceeding allowable levels
  • 26 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples
  • One grape sample containing 10 different pesticides
  • Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides

The Soil & Health Association and the  Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa NZ are calling for an attitude change in New Zealand’s food safety regulators following two very similar pesticide residue result reports in 3 months, and, despite evidence to the contrary, continued assurances that there is no food safety issue.

In the latest results food tested for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA), from 152 samples, just 7% had no pesticide residues and there were 18 examples of residues above Maximum Residue Limits. Foods sampled were bananas, Bok or Pak choi, broccoli, cucumber, grapes, nectarines, oranges and wheat.

Among 22 of 24 grape samples there were 26 different chemicals found with one grape sample containing 10 different residues, another with 8, another 7, four with six, four with 5, six with four different residues, and only two each with 2 or 3 residues. Only 2 grape samples had no detectable residues.

All broccoli, nectarines and oranges contained pesticide residues. Organic produce is not expected to contain any synthetic pesticide residues; however the few grapes and other produce not containing residues were not identified by production method.

“NZFSA is privy to the science proving the danger of pesticides, especially in mixtures, but fails to acknowledge the risks to consumers,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“Cancers, endocrine disruption, foetal abnormalities, neurological disease and many other conditions have been proven to be associated with pesticides as found in NZFSA residue surveys, yet in the name of trade, NZFSA, Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) continue to allow unnecessary chemical use and residues.”

“There are organic means of production that do not necessitate use of synthetic chemicals, that also provide more nutritious and safer food than the New Zealand food regulators are supporting. It is time for a new focus on food production and safety.”

“As in the last survey results, the banned chemical endosulfan has once again been found in cucumbers, and half of the Bok and Pak choi samples had illegal residue levels,” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The countries of the European Union are all embarking on developing national pesticide reduction policies, and once again New Zealand is lagging behind.”

“Despite discussions with the Food Saftey Authority over a number of years, we have not been able to get them to even acknowledge that reducing residues in our food would be a good idea.”

“The EU is also working to find ways of addressing the problem of increased toxicity from exposure to multiple pesticides, yet NZFSA still will not acknowledge that such a thing exists, let alone the need to reduce exposures to multiple chemicals.”

“What will it take for the NZFSA to catch on to the problem? A 93% rate of contamination of our food supply with pesticides is totally unacceptable,” added Dr Watts.

“A fresh approach to food and community safety is needed in New Zealand,” said Mr Browning.

“With continued strong growth in organics internationally, it is time that organic production targets such as in Soil & Health’s Organic 2020 vision, were taken on for the well being of New Zealand’s environmental, economic and human health”
 

Latest test samples showing detectable residues.

Banana             1 of   24 with no detectable residue
Choi                   1 of  23
Broccoli             0 of  24
Cucumber         6 of  25
Grapes               2 of  24
Nectarines        0 of  4
Oranges            0 of  24
Wheat               1 of  6

REFERENCES from the 28 July joint media release. All remain pertinent.
(1) Results can be found on  the NZFSA website at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/food-residues-surveil… July 2010 results spreadsheet, season 1 [Excel 59 KB  or through http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2010/2010-07-26-frs…
(2) Chlorothalonil is a fungicide in the same family as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol. In New Zealand, Chlorothalonil is applied to a variety of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals for the control of various diseases including among others powdery mildew, blackspot, botrytis, blight, and leaf spot. It is also used in antifouling paints and timber antisapstains.
(3) Lodovici, M. et al 1994,1997 http://tiny.cc/goony  or http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCN-3RH123D-6… These results indicate that the toxicity of low doses of pesticide mixtures present in food might be further reduced by eliminating diphenylamine and chlorothalonil.
Kortenkamp &  Backhaus. 2009.  State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity. Final  Report .Executive Summary. 22 December 2009.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/report_Mixture%20toxicity…. “Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from chemical mixtures and not from individual substances. This clearly underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures.”
(4) http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-us/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=femal…
(5) http://checkorphan.getreelhealth.com/grid/news/all/individuals-who-apply… and  http://tiny.cc/rgl83  orhttp://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/25/63…

Pesticide Residues in Food – Worst Ever

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The Food Safety Authority’s latest pesticide residue results are a nightmare: they are the worst results I have ever seen,” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.(1)

* Pesticide residues found in 94% of targeted fruit and vege samples

* Prohibited endosulfan in 11 of 23 cucumber samples

* Dangerous fungicide exceeding allowable levels in 9 out of 24 Pak choi samples

* 18 different pesticides found among 24 grape samples

* Organic fruit & vege free of synthetic pesticides

“For a start, fully 94% of the samples of fruit and vegetables contained residues – including all of the oranges, grapes, bok choi, and nectarines. Then there are endosulfan residues in 11 out of 23 cucumber samples: either this is illegal use of a banned insecticide or the cucumbers have been imported from Australia.  And 9 out of 24 bok and pak choi samples contained illegal levels of chlorothalonil.”

Endosulfan is a highly toxic organochlorine insecticide that has been banned in at least 65 countries, the most recent being USA and Brazil.

“New Zealand banned endosulfan in 2008, effective from Jan 2009. NZFSA must fully investigate whether these residues result from New Zealand growers illegally using remaining stocks that should have been disposed of by January 2010, or whether we are importing residues from Australia.”

Australia is one of the few remaining countries still using endosulfan, despite the pesticide facing a likely global ban through the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants next year.

“If we are going to be importing endosulfan-containing food from countries such as Australia then the food should be labelled with country of origin so that buyers can avoid it. But if the residues result from New Zealand growers then the book should be thrown at them”, said Dr Watts.

“The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is being extremely negligent about New Zealanders’ health when it plays down the safety risks of illegal levels of the fungicide chlorothalonil (e.g. Bravo),” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.(2)

“NZFSA is well aware of important research which shows even low levels of chlorothalonil increase the toxicity of pesticide mixtures which are implicated in blood disorders and cancers. However when NZFSA targets food products likely to have pesticide residues, and finds chlorothalonil in worrying pesticide mixtures, it tells the public their food is safe. Wrong, wrong!”(3)

“Food Safety’s own Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) as a measure of best agricultural practice have a 50 fold variation of chlorothalonil residue acceptance between different brassicas, and although Massey University research has shown a link between workers using pesticides and leukaemia, and United States government health staff found chlorothalonil increased risks up to 5.8 times of a blood disorder that can lead to multiple myeloma, NZFSA feels it can tell New Zealanders their food is safe even when Bok choi and broccoli had multiple residues containing chlorothalonil.”(4,5)

“Vegetables produced organically will not contain chlorothalonil, as fungicides such as Bravo and similar pesticides are prohibited in all New Zealand organic standards, and genuine organic growers produce in a more sustainable manner,” said Mr Browning

“We are unwittingly exposing ourselves to a veritable cocktail of chemicals with every mouthful of food we eat,” commented Alison White, Co-convenor of the Safe Food Campaign.  “One of the foods most likely to contain residues are grapes: a total of 18 pesticides were found in 24 samples in this survey.  These residues included the organophosphate chlorpyrifos, which has been found to interfere with the brain and central nervous system, with the prenatal brain being especially vulnerable to low doses.  A study published this year showed that children with higher levels of the organophosphate insecticides in their urine were more likely to have ADHD.”

“Many grape samples also contained the dithiocarbamate fungicides, which may contain a breakdown product or metabolite called ETU.  This metabolite interferes with our hormonal system and exposing young brains to this may result in effects on their learning ability, behaviour, reproduction and increased susceptibility to cancer.  Our children are at unnecessary risk because we continue to accept these residues on our food,” concluded Ms White.  She counselled those who were pregnant and young children especially to avoid grapes and other imported fruit  and instead buy local and organic so their pesticide intake could be reduced.”

“A fresh approach to food and community safety is needed in New Zealand and with massive growth in organics internationally, it is time that organic production targets, such as in Soil & Health’s Organic 2020 vision, were taken on for the well being of New Zealand’s environmental, economic and human health,” said Mr Browning.

Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants, Healthy People.

——— ———–

NOTES & REFERENCES
(1) Results can be found on  the NZFSA website at http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/science/research-projects/food-residues-surveillance-programme/      July 2010 results spreadsheet, season 1 [Excel 59 KB  or throughhttp://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/publications/media-releases/2010/2010-07-26-frsp-results.htm
(2) Chlorothalonil is a fungicide in the same family as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachlorophenol. In New Zealand, Chlorothalonil is applied to a variety of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals for the control of various diseases including among others powdery mildew, blackspot, botrytis, blight, and leaf spot. It is also used in antifouling paints and timber antisapstains.
(3) Lodovici, M. et al 1994,1997 http://www.tiny.cc/goony
or  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCN-3RH123D-6&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=935242972&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c8e96fd36709a6617d101f34322937c4
These results indicate that the toxicity of low doses of pesticide mixtures present in food might be further reduced by eliminating diphenylamine and chlorothalonil.
Kortenkamp &  Backhaus. 2009.  State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity. Final  Report .Executive Summary. 22 December 2009.
http://www.ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/report_Mixture%20toxicity.pdf    “Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from chemical mixtures and not from individual substances. This clearly underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures.”
(4) http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-us/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=female-farm-workers-at-highest-risk-of-leukaemia-15-06-2009
(5) http://checkorphan.getreelhealth.com/grid/news/all/individuals-who-apply-pesticides-are-found-have-double-risk-blood-disorder?from=checkorphan.org
and  http://www.tiny.cc/rgl83
or http://www.bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/25/6386?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Pesticide+exposure+and+risk+of+monoclonal++&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

Picton Methyl Bromide Gas Release Risky Again

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The Picton community was tonight again at risk of methyl bromide fumigation gas exposure, as log fumigators in Shakespeare Bay released tons of the neurotoxic gas with light breeze flowing onto Picton according to eyewitnesses.
Logs in the hold of the 170m ship Pontonostos and up to 20 stacks of wharfside logs have been fumigated with the highly toxic gas over the last 24 hours.
With an absence of air modelling to identify the direction of the invisible gas plume being released throughout the evening, Soil & Health Association spokesperson Steffan Browning monitored the activity from the port lookout and followed Port Marlborough’s Live Weather website. (1) Winds were light and predominantly from the north west passing the fumigation site through the Cook Strait ferry terminals, harbour and rail yards into Picton township.
Local environmental group Guardians of the Sounds and the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand have led calls for the halt or recapture of methyl bromide fumigation in Picton and are members of the The Coalition against the use of Methyl Bromide which protested in Picton, Wellington and Tauranga recently as part of the Trade Unions Workers Memorial Day. This year there was particular reference to the men who had died from motor neurone disease in Nelson following exposure to methyl bromide fumigant at Port Nelson.
“I am concerned about the potential cumulative effect from these repeat fumigations on our Picton community,” said Guardians of the Sounds chairman Pete Beech. “Tonights fumigation is to be repeated for another log ship the Duncan Bay waiting to dock.”
“The deaths of the seaman in the hold of the log ship at Marsden Point today, whether caused by methyl bromide gas or not, reminds us of the deadly risks associated with this gas, given that it is tasteless, odourless and invisible and being heavier than air is known to linger.”
“With no odour, the people of Picton and workers have no idea whether they are exposed to the fumigant gas,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning. “We do know that the monitoring for Port Marlborough is not likely to detect the majority of the gas plume as air modelling has not occurred.”
“One Picton resident who has experienced ill health following fumigations moved through to Blenheim for the night to avoid the fumigant. He is also protesting the Marlborough District Council’s poor handling of the methyl bromide issue locally.”
“Once again the so called independent monitoring company was employing fumigation staff to check monitoring devices on Port Shakespeare’s fences. This is a direct conflict of interest.”
“The tarpaulins were removed consecutively from log stacks in about a minute each releasing the gas in a sequence of more concentrated plumes while the fumigant gas in the ships hold was being released continuously through the evening.”
Soil & Health will present to the Environmental Risk Management Authority’s (ERMA) methyl bromide reassessment hearing in Wellington on May 17, and Pete Beech will speak to the Guardians of the Sounds submission in Picton May 19. Other hearings that week will be in Nelson, Tauranga and Auckland. Many submitters have called for the use of recapture technology for methyl bromide gas after fumigation.
Soil & Health aspires to an Organic 2020 where biosecurity can be protected without the release to the environment of toxic gases.
NOTES:
(1) http://www.portmarlborough.co.nz/Live%20Weather
Soil & Health’s response to ERMA’s 5 November 2009 Evaluation & Review recommendations report is copied further below.
———————-
ERMAs Chemical Cowboy Approach To Methyl Bromide Branded Reckless
Nov 6, 2009
ERMA’s methyl bromide control recommendations, released yesterday, are among the most reckless in the world with little regard for human and environmental safety, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ. (1)
“Releasing a gas that seriously depletes our ozone layer and is a known neurotoxin, and allowing bystanders to be as close as 50 metres from the release of up to 1000kg of that gas is outrageous. This has to be one of ERMA’s worst,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.(2)
Tonnes of methyl bromide fumigant gas are released to air from under tarpaulins or ships holds following each log fumigation, with smaller amounts being released from containers used for fumigation of imported and export goods.
“With no mandatory air modelling recommended, monitoring is useless and fumigators are only making assumptions of where this invisible, odourless and dangerous fumigant will go. It should be asked why ERMA puts restrictions on anything. This report has to be one of the clearest examples of how New Zealand’s environmental, health and safety regulatory bodies are failing the community.”
The recommendations are part of the Environmental Risk Management Authority’s (ERMA) current reassessment of methyl bromide. The reassessment comes at a time when log exports are soaring. Export log fumigations account for more than 80% of the methyl bromide used in New Zealand. Although originally aiming to phase out the use of methyl bromide gas by next year as part of the ozone-focused Montreal Protocol, New Zealand is now using close to 10 times the amount of methyl bromide gas than it was in 2001.
“The dominant focus of ERMA’s report is on effects to the market economy. This means ERMA is functioning more as an Economic Risk Management Authority. The environmental and human safety hazards are clearly secondary to New Zealand’s big business interests,” said Mr Browning.
“Soil & Health is not opposed to the use of methyl bromide for fumigation for biosecurity purposes either, but the release of hundreds of tonnes of the extremely toxic gas near local communities and its inevitable effect on climate change is unacceptable.”
“Recapturing the gas, as is done in Nelson and overseas, should have been demanded by ERMA throughout New Zealand, and gas recapture infrastructure quickly developed by the log exporters. However cost has once again been allowed to come before the health and safety of New Zealanders.”
Tasmania has already made methyl bromide recapture mandatory for quarantine treatment, and the European Parliament has banned the use of methyl bromide within the European Union (EU) from March 18, 2010. (3)
“Methyl bromide due to its damage of the ozone layer has a much greater effect on climate change than carbon dioxide, yet ERMA is hiding behind the fact that man made ozone hole damage appears to be lessening. So now New Zealand is blatantly taking advantage of everyone else fixing the problem.”
“With ERMA’s chemical cowboy approach, New Zealand is once again demeaning its clean green 100% Pure reputation.”
Soil & Health has been involved with several ERMA reassessments and other hearings, and believes the ERMA submission process now open to the public until 18 December, is unlikely to make significant changes to the recommendations.
Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020 that will not include release to air of dangerous ozone depleting fumigants.
References
(1) http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/resources/publications/pdfs/Methyl%20Bromide%20Reassessment%20Application.pdf
(2) Extract from ERMA’s Methyl Bromide Reassessment Application

1. The Agency proposes the adoption of the following tolerable exposure limits (TELs):
TEL(chronic)

TEL(acute)24 hour average

TEL (acute)1 hour

0.005 mg/m3

1.3 mg/m3

3.9 mg/m3

1.3 ppb

333 ppb

1000 ppb

0.0013 ppm

0.333 ppm

1 ppm
2. The Agency proposes that the following minimum buffer zones (the downwind distance between the ventilation release location and any non-occupational bystander) be observed when ventilation occurs:
Situation

Buffer zone

Ship‘s hold (greater than 1000 kg methyl bromide used)

100m

Ship‘s hold (less than 1000 kg)

50m

Logs/timber under covers outdoors and indoors (without recapture technology)

50m

Shipping containers

25m
Note 1: Non-occupational bystanders include not just those persons living in nearby residential properties but also those who may be temporarily present in a location, for example, walking on footpaths.
(3) European Union
B1.2.1 At its meeting on March 25, 2009, the European Parliament banned the use of methyl bromide within the European Union (EU) from March 18, 2010. This ban is significantly sooner than the 2015 phase-out originally proposed by the European Commission and supported by EU governments.
B1.2.2 The ban covers the use of methyl bromide as a pesticide, as well as its use for QPS purposes prior to transport. This ban includes the gassing of containers to control vermin. The only remaining exceptions to the ban will be the use of methyl bromide for analytical use in laboratories and for its use in emergencies, such as where a large-scale epidemic occurs (methyl bromide used for emergencies may be used for a period not exceeding 120 days and up to a quantity not exceeding 20 metric tonnes).
B1.2.3 The calculated level of methyl bromide which may be used in the period from 1 January 2010 to 18 March 2010 in the EU is not to exceed 45 (ODP) tonnes. Until 18 March 2010 methyl bromide may be placed on the market and used for QPS purposes for treatment of goods for export, under the condition that at least 80 % of methyl bromide released from the consignment is recovered.

Protest Against Methyl Bromide Gas Release

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Protests beginning in Picton Friday April 23 against toxic methyl bromide fumigant gas being released into the environment are being co-ordinated nationally in respect of Workers Memorial Day on April 28.

Guardians of the Sounds, Soil & Health Association of NZ and the Green Party have been campaigning in Picton for several years on the issue and will be joined by union representatives on Friday.

The protests will continue in Wellington on Monday 26 April and Tauranga 28 April.

“Environmental and food safety NGOs joining in a coalition with the unions representing many of the workers exposed to the dangerous fumigant gas is a step up in opposition against the use and release of methyl bromide,” said Soil & Health New Zealand spokeperson Steffan Browning.

“Methyl bromide gas release to the environment following biosecurity fumigation, damages the ozone layer and influences climate change affecting everyone, but has a very individual and nasty risk to worker and community health for those exposed to fumigation gases.”

“New Zealand is flat out increasing the use of methyl bromide while the rest of the world in accordance with the Montreal Protocol is phasing the toxic gas out. Alternative management is possible, but the perpetrators of health and environmental harm are dodging paying for improvements by using ERMA’s complicity with economic priorities.”

The April 28 Workers Memorial Day honours workers killed during their employment and is particularly pertinent for those that have died from motor neurone disease following methyl bromide exposure at Port Nelson and elsewhere.

“While science has not yet completed the link between methyl bromide and motor neurone disease, the Nelson statistics support the very high liklihood of it being the cause of several port worker deaths. The statistics will be all the more damning when Nelson port workers who have moved elsewhere, ahead of motor neurone disease overcoming them, are included in the statistics.”

Methyl bromide fumigation was banned in Europe last month and is currently being removed from agricultural use in the United States due to its range of toxic effects and ozone depletion.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) has received 92 submissions to its methyl bromide reassessment process, with about 40% wanting to speak to their submissions. ERMA has set five hearings to be held 17 – 21 May in Wellington, then Nelson, Picton/Blenheim, Tauranga, and Auckland. Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings, though only submitters may speak. Soil & Health will be presenting to their submission in Wellington Monday 17 May.

The Coalition against the use of Methyl Bromide includes Soil & Health, Combined Trade Unions, Guardians of the Sounds, The Green Party, Maritime Union of NZ, The Rail and Maritime Transport Union, Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand, Safe Food Campaign,  Marlborough Environment Centre, Alliance Party and others, and is focused on ensuring recapture of fumigant into filters rather than environmental release, should there be continued use of methyl bromide beyond ERMA’s reassessment process.

Soil & Health welcomes the breadth of support against methyl bromide and aspires to an Organic 2020 where biosecurity can be protected without the release to the environment of toxic gases.

Ends.

NOTES:

Soil & Health’s response to ERMA’s 5 November 2009 Evaluation & Review recommendations report is copied further below.

 

ERMAs Chemical Cowboy Approach To Methyl Bromide Branded Reckless

Nov 6, 2009

ERMA’s methyl bromide control recommendations, released yesterday, are among the most reckless in the world with little regard for human and environmental safety, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ. (1)

“Releasing a gas that seriously depletes our ozone layer and is a known neurotoxin, and allowing bystanders to be as close as 50 metres from the release of up to 1000kg of that gas is outrageous. This has to be one of ERMA’s worst,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.(2)

Tonnes of methyl bromide fumigant gas are released to air from under tarpaulins or ships holds following each log fumigation, with smaller amounts being released from containers used for fumigation of imported and export goods.

“With no mandatory air modelling recommended, monitoring is useless and fumigators are only making assumptions of where this invisible, odourless and dangerous fumigant will go. It should be asked why ERMA puts restrictions on anything. This report has to be one of the clearest examples of how New Zealand’s environmental, health and safety regulatory bodies are failing the community.”

The recommendations are part of the Environmental Risk Management Authority’s (ERMA) current reassessment of methyl bromide. The reassessment comes at a time when log exports are soaring. Export log fumigations account for more than 80% of the methyl bromide used in New Zealand. Although originally aiming to phase out the use of methyl bromide gas by next year as part of the ozone-focused Montreal Protocol, New Zealand is now using close to 10 times the amount of methyl bromide gas than it was in 2001.

“The dominant focus of ERMA’s report is on effects to the market economy. This means ERMA is functioning more as an Economic Risk Management Authority. The environmental and human safety hazards are clearly secondary to New Zealand’s big business interests,” said Mr Browning.

“Soil & Health is not opposed to the use of methyl bromide for fumigation for biosecurity purposes either, but the release of hundreds of tonnes of the extremely toxic gas near local communities and its inevitable effect on climate change is unacceptable.”

“Recapturing the gas, as is done in Nelson and overseas, should have been demanded by ERMA throughout New Zealand, and gas recapture infrastructure quickly developed by the log exporters. However cost has once again been allowed to come before the health and safety of New Zealanders.”

Tasmania has already made methyl bromide recapture mandatory for quarantine treatment, and the European Parliament has banned the use of methyl bromide within the European Union (EU) from March 18, 2010. (3)

“Methyl bromide due to its damage of the ozone layer has a much greater effect on climate change than carbon dioxide, yet ERMA is hiding behind the fact that man made ozone hole damage appears to be lessening. So now New Zealand is blatantly taking advantage of everyone else fixing the problem.”

“With ERMA’s chemical cowboy approach, New Zealand is once again demeaning its clean green 100% Pure reputation.”

Soil & Health has been involved with several ERMA reassessments and other hearings, and believes the ERMA submission process now open to the public until 18 December, is unlikely to make significant changes to the recommendations.

Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020 that will not include release to air of dangerous ozone depleting fumigants.

References
(1) http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/resources/publications/pdfs/Methyl%20Bromide%2…
(2) Extract from ERMA’s Methyl Bromide Reassessment Application

1. The Agency proposes the adoption of the following tolerable exposure limits (TELs):

TEL(chronic)
TEL(acute)24 hour average
TEL (acute)1 hour

0.005 mg/m3
1.3 mg/m3
3.9 mg/m3

1.3 ppb
333 ppb
1000 ppb

0.0013 ppm
0.333 ppm
1 ppm

2. The Agency proposes that the following minimum buffer zones (the downwind distance between the ventilation release location and any non-occupational bystander) be observed when ventilation occurs:

Situation – Buffer zone
Ship‘s hold (greater than 1000 kg methyl bromide used) – 100m
Ship‘s hold (less than 1000 kg) – 50m
Logs/timber under covers outdoors and indoors (without recapture technology) – 50m
Shipping containers – 25m

Note 1: Non-occupational bystanders include not just those persons living in nearby residential properties but also those who may be temporarily present in a location, for example, walking on footpaths.

(3) European Union
B1.2.1 At its meeting on March 25, 2009, the European Parliament banned the use of methyl bromide within the European Union (EU) from March 18, 2010. This ban is significantly sooner than the 2015 phase-out originally proposed by the European Commission and supported by EU governments.

B1.2.2 The ban covers the use of methyl bromide as a pesticide, as well as its use for QPS purposes prior to transport. This ban includes the gassing of containers to control vermin. The only remaining exceptions to the ban will be the use of methyl bromide for analytical use in laboratories and for its use in emergencies, such as where a large-scale epidemic occurs (methyl bromide used for emergencies may be used for a period not exceeding 120 days and up to a quantity not exceeding 20 metric tonnes).

B1.2.3 The calculated level of methyl bromide which may be used in the period from 1 January 2010 to 18 March 2010 in the EU is not to exceed 45 (ODP) tonnes. Until 18 March 2010 methyl bromide may be placed on the market and used for QPS purposes for treatment of goods for export, under the condition that at least 80 % of methyl bromide released from the consignment is recovered.

Bethells Herbicides and Taranakis 1080 A National Issue

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The community concern over aerial spraying at Te Henga, near Bethells Beach, followed by a 1080 debacle in Taranaki is indicative of a much wider issue; the extra heavy use of chemicals throughout New Zealand and the lack of vision for a pesticide free environment, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ. Soil & Health is calling for a national ban on aerial spraying to match that of Europe.
“New Zealand is a poisoners paradise with little restriction against broad scale herbicide spraying on agricultural, forestry, amenity and conservation land, or of pelletised animal poisons being aerial dropped over huge areas,” said Soil & Health – Organic NZ spokesperson Steffan Browning.
A public meeting was held last week at Waitakere Primary School to discuss aerial herbicide spraying in the Bethells area. Concerns over potential environmental and human health risks from an intended 23 hectare wetland area of willow being herbicide sprayed by local councils near Bethells beach, had prompted a legal appeal and postponement of the operation. However regardless of that outcome, a neighbouring landowner aerial sprayed vegetation immediately adjacent as a permitted activity, although conditions and notification were unsuitable.
“Bethells is a microcosm of a conflict building in New Zealand in which communities are tiring of pesticides being applied with little regard for their health and with little effective consultation. Spray drift rules in council plans throughout New Zealand are ineffective and there exists a presumption of right to spray among land managers, whether foresters, conservationists, or farmers,” said Mr Browning.
“The Egmont National Park aerial drop of 1080 poison, which also landed on some personnel busy weed spraying, shows that Bethells is just one victim of a country wide conservation regime that is fixated with a chemical killing approach to protecting indigenous biodiversity.”
“At the Bethells Te Henga wetland as in many throughout New Zealand, indigenous conservation is the excuse for widespread spraying of introduced plants such as willows. The native plant conservators ignore the subtleties of toxics on the very ecosystem they strive to preserve, and the neighbouring farmer like so many others seem to think it OK to herbicide drench the very land his customers food comes from.”
“Environment Waikato at the same time is preparing to allow blanket 10 year region-wide non publicly notified consents to dump 1080 into water and onto land. This council knows about available alternatives to 1080, but like most other councils is taking the easy way out despite the wishes of many in its own community.”
“ New Zealand needs vision not poison.”
“Soil & Health is calling for a ban on aerial spraying to match Europe’s, where history has shown that broad brush chemical pest management approaches are in fact not a sustainable solution but cause human and environmental harm.”
“At a time when aerial spraying of chemicals is now banned in Europe, the so called Department of Conservation and its cohorts the Councils throughout New Zealand are spraying on like there is no tomorrow,” said Mr Browning.
“Will they pay as each of their current poisons is shown to cause unacceptable harm? Will they pay as tourists and discerning markets turn off?”
Soil & Health has a vision of an Organic 2020 in which aerial spraying of toxins has no place, and flora and fauna, farmers and the community thrive in a vibrant live environment.