26 September 2006
The formation of a stakeholder group aimed at protecting forestry exports while moving towards more environmentally sustainable quarantine treatments represents a major step towards phasing out the use of ozone-depleting methyl bromide at New Zealand ports.
The new group, comprising forest and fumigation industry representatives, research providers and a raft of government agencies, is providing the impetus for a long overdue change in New Zealand’s quarantine treatments.
Known as STIMBR (Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction), the purpose of this initiative is to develop and promote a research strategy to provide alternative treatments and ultimately save money for the sector.
STIMBR chair, Dr Gordon Hosking, says the size and diversity of the group indicates how many different agencies have a vested interest in solving this important issue.
“Individuals have been discussing phasing out methyl bromide for years, but there has been no urgency around finding viable alternatives. STIMBR now provides the necessary support to enable a major push towards protecting our trade access and allaying public health concerns,” he says.
As a major exporter of forest produce to a wide range of markets around the world, New Zealand uses methyl bromide to ensure we can meet our export market requirements that these products are free from damaging pests and diseases.
Methyl bromide is an ozone-depleting substance that is controlled internationally under the Montreal Protocol and restricted domestically by the Ozone Layer Protection Act.
In addition to environmental considerations, there is also mounting public pressure in New Zealand to ban its use due to perceived human health threats.
Ensis Forest Biosecurity and Protection leader and STIMBR group member, Dr Brian Richardson, says because of these factors, there is a critical and urgent need to find a replacement for methyl bromide to indefinitely sustain exports of forest products.
“The research strategy endorsed by STIMBR is aimed at finding short and long term solutions to meeting quarantine requirements.
“We have already started development of alternative chemical and non-chemical treatments that can potentially be used in place of methyl bromide in certain applications. A concerted research effort is required to realise the potential of these new technologies,” Dr Richardson explains.
“Long term research has a more ecological focus that could enable us to substantially reduce fumigant use.”
\Members of STIMBR include forest industry and fumigant company stakeholders, two research providers (Ensis and Crop & Food Research) and several government departments: the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Biosecurity New Zealand; the Ministries for the Environment; of Economic Development; Health; Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Department of Labour and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA New Zealand).
Dr Richardson says the formation of STIMBR will enable delivery of the research strategy by ensuring the projects are adequately funded, and by providing a governance role.
Co-funding and in-kind support from stakeholders will demonstrate the keen interest of stakeholders in implementing research results.
In addition there is potential to gain international funding for this research strategy through engagement with stakeholders in Australia.
Research will be largely provided by Ensis and Crop & Food.
Ensis is the unincorporated joint venture between New Zealand Crown Research Institute Scion, and Australia’s CSIRO. It is New Zealand’s leading provider of forest biosecurity and pest management research and has a long track record of delivering beneficial outcomes to the forest industry.
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