Fumigants are controlled by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996.
Fumigants are used to control a variety of pests including:
- fungus in soil
- spiders in grape imports
- mites in grain
- rabbits in burrows
Different fumigants are:
- injected into the soil
- used to treat timber
- used to treat export and import goods
- used to debug buildings and ships
- used extensively by the agriculture and horticulture industries and other pest management services
If your pest control business uses fumigants, you have to have the right Test Certificates and licenses. These include:
- Licensing
- Location Test Certificates
- Tracking
- Approved Handler Test Certificates
- Packaging
- Identification, documentation and signage
- Fire Extinguishers and Emergency Management
- Tolerable Exposure Limits
Licensing Requirements
Under the HSNO Act, anyone who manufactures, sells, uses or stores a licensed fumigant will need a Controlled Substances Licence. Only a licence holder can take possession of a licenced fumigant. To buy them your supplier will need to confirm there is a licence holder who will take responsibility for them, and that you have a Location Test Certificate if needed.
Location Test Certificates
You will need a Location Test Certificate if you are using and/or storing flammable fumigants above certain minimum quantities. A list of these is included in the table below.
Tracking
The most hazardous chemicals need tracking, and you will need an Approved Hander in order to use them. A supplier will need to confirm there is an Approved Hander who will take responsibility for them, and that they have a Location Test Certificate if needed.
All the fumigants in the table below are tracked. Tracking means recording what happens to the fumigant which you possess. See our tracking page for more details.
Approved Handlers
Fumigants are highly toxic poisons that, in some instances, can be extremely harmful to people.
An Approved Handler must make sure that certain chemicals are handled safely, that they do not harm people, nor damage the environment.
All fumigants listed in the table below are required to be under the control of an Approved Handler at all times, except when the fumigant is safely locked away.
Not all employees in a fumigation business need to be Approved Handlers. Fumigants may be handled by a person who is not an Approved Handler if:
- an Approved Handler is present at the place where the fumigant is being handled
- the Approved Handler has provided guidance to the person for the handling
- the Approved Handler is available at all times to provide assistance if necessary
Table of fumigants
Fumigants below are listed by their trade name. The table shows what certificate or licence you need to have, or whether the fumigant is required to be tracked for each specific product (check with your supplier as new products may become available after this list was created).
| Fumigant, with Trade Name Products | Location Certificate | Licence/ Approved Handler | Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,3-Dichloropropene Telone Soil Fumigant | Yes > 100 L | Yes | Yes |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene and chloropicrin Telone C-35 Soil Fumigant | Yes > 100 L | Yes | Yes |
| Chloropicrin Brimark Chloropicrin Pic-Fume Chloropicrin Soil Fume CP | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hydrogen cyanide Cyanosil | No | Yes | Yes |
| Magnesium or aluminium phosphide Magtoxin Gentoxin Genfume AP Quickphos | Yes > 3 kg | Yes > 3 kg | Yes > 3 kg |
| Methyl bromide AG Fume MB Brima-Fume Methyl Bromide K & B Adams Methyl Bromide | Yes >100 m3 | Yes | Yes |
| Methyl bromide and chloropicrin Brima-Fume Methyl Bromide Fumigant Bromafume Soil Fumigant Israel Bromine K & B Adams Methyl Bromide Fumigant Soil Fume MBC 33 | Yes > 100 m3 | Yes | Yes |
| Phosphine ECO2FUME | No | Yes | Yes |
Tolerable Exposure Limits
The following table specifies tolerable exposure limits set for the fumigants specified in column 1.
|
Substances |
Component and tolerable exposure limit |
|---|---|
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Further information
The Department of Labour is responsible for HSNO enforcement in workplaces. You can contact the Department of Labour on 0800 20 90 20
Contact ERMA New Zealand
If you have any questions about hazardous substance compliance contact the Hazardous Substances
Compliance Line:
Phone: 0800 376 234, or
Email: hsinfo@ermanz.govt.nz
Or contact us at:
ERMA New Zealand
PO Box 131
Wellington.
