Arable farmers have begun ruling out protecting crops with pesticides being banned in a phase out by the Environmental Protection Authority. The organophosphates of prothiofos, terbufos, fenamiphos and methamidophos are described by the authority as potent insecticides with "significant effects" on human health and the environment. They are used, among others, to protect other crops such as carrots, potatoes, citrus, avocados and sweetcorn and cereals.
Most commonly applied were the chemicals terbufos and diazinon for countering grass grubs in pasture seed and other crops and methamidophos as a control for maize crops. The EPA reassessed the chemicals in 2013, resulting in their approval for importing and manufacturing being revoked with a series of phase-out dates. Prothiofos and terbufos pesticides were banned for use on August 1. Methamidophos will be ruled out with an end date pushed out to July next year, while fenamiphos is only able to be used within this deadline by approved agencies for biosecurity work. Diazinon pesticides are being banned in 2028.
Source: odt.co.nz
