ERMA's irresponsible position on methyl bromide

The Green Party is calling for the immediate phase out of methyl bromide, a highly toxic and ozone depleting gas, and use of recapture technology within one year, when it appears before the Environmental Risk Management Agency (ERMA) today.

ERMA begins nationwide hearings today to decide whether to allow the continued use of the controversial fumigant.

Green MP Sue Kedgley said she was astonished that ERMA had proposed, in its initial assessment of the chemical, to continue to allow its use for a further ten years.

“ERMA has a duty to protect the environment and workers health. Given this mandate it should be calling for a phase out of methyl bromide and an immediate use of recapture technology," Ms Kedgley said.

“However, ERMA is ignoring the many safer alternative technologies and effectively recommending an increase in our use of methyl bromide.

Ms Kedgley said ERMA's recommendation to allow the use of methyl bromide for another decade was clearly driven by economic concerns.

"In our view, all cars and food should be required to be fumigated with alternatives to methyl bromide within one year, and recapture technology used for logs," Ms Kedgley said.

“It is simply irresponsible for ERMA to recommend the continued use of methyl bromide when alternative technologies are available and already being used.

Ms Kedgley said methyl bromide is a highly toxic, ozone depleting gas that poses a significant health risk to the environment workers and anyone who is exposed to it.

“It is virtually impossible to contain the gas when it is released directly into the atmosphere, so everybody working or living near to the fumigation area is at risk," Ms Kedgley said.

Submissions are being heard from 9:30 AM in Wellington.

Sue Kedgley will be submitting at 1:45 PM

Program for the day can be accessed on the ERMA website:
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/resources/publications/pdfs/Notice%20of%20Hearing%20-%20Wellington.pdf

Submissions are also being heard in other centres around New Zealand: Nelson (18 May), Picton (19 May), Tauranga (20 May) and Auckland (21 May).