The Decision-making Committee has revised the controls for using methyl bromide, a fumigant used on products such as logs and fresh produce for export.
The decision considers protecting human health and the environment from the risks of ongoing methyl bromide use. It also acknowledges the concerns from Māori and the wider public regarding the health and environmental effects of methyl bromide, as well as Aotearoa New Zealand’s international obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
The reassessment focused on recapture requirements, and a comprehensive suite of controls to mitigate the risks of methyl bromide use. Banning methyl bromide was out of scope of this reassessment.