The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) New Zealand is seeking public views on the reassessment of a group of antifouling paints (AFPs).
The AFPs have been widely used in marine relevant industries in New Zealand. There are a number of benefits of the AFPs utilization mainly in terms of preventing aquatic plants and animals to build-up on the surface of boats. However, recent research has suggested significant risks of some AFPs to aquatic life and human well-being.
A preliminary comprehensive assessment has been made by the EPA, followed by genuine communications with the stakeholders across New Zealand such as paint manufacturers, regional authorities and marine operators. At current stage, the EPA encourages the public to submit opinions regarding this issue before the public hearing, and an expert decision-making committee will review the application after these processes. Please see table below generated from the EPA document for the concerned substances in the AFPs subject to the reassessment.
Table: Concerned Substances in the Antifouling Paints Subject to the EPA Reassessment:
Active Ingredient | CAS Number | |
3(2H)-Isothiazolone, 4,5-dichloro-2-octyl- (DCOIT) | 64359-81-5 | |
Chlorothalonil | 1897-45-6 | |
Copper pyrithione | 14915-37-8 | |
*Copper as: | copper (I) oxide | 1317-39-1 |
copper thiocyanate | 1111-67-7 | |
Dichlofluanid | 1085-98-9 | |
Diuron | 330-54-1 | |
Irgarol 1051 | 28159-98-0 | |
Mancozeb | 8018/1/7 | |
Octhilinone | 26530-20-1 | |
Thiram | 137-26-8 | |
Tolyfluanid | 731-27-1 | |
Ziram | 137-30-4 | |
Zinc pyrithione | 13463-41-7 | |
Zineb | 12122-67-7 | |
*Copper, in the form of either copper (I) oxide or copper thiocyanate, is used in all of the AFP formulations in this reassessment. In this Application the word copper refers to either copper (I) oxide or copper thiocyanate.
In support of the decision-making of the reassessment, the EPA will also consider revising the current hazard classification of the antifouling paints being reassessed based on expert advice. The advice process will be completed and the outcome will be released in late Feb 2013. This event may produce some changes to GHS criteria adopted by New Zealand, with New Zealand being the very first country to fully implement GHS in as early as 2006.
The consultation of the reassessment runs until 7 Mar 2013 and a final decision is expected to be made publicly available in May 2013. Stakeholders may click Make a submission to have your say about the reassessment of the AFPs.
