The Environmental Protection Authority is proposing to revoke or phase out more than 20 insecticides used in New Zealand, because of health and environmental risks associated with them.
It's been reviewing 29 chemicals with organophosphate and carbamate active ingredients, used on a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops and for biosecurity plant protection.
Some of the insecticides have been banned or restricted overseas and following its preliminary assessment, the EPA is recommending removing the approvals for 12 of the chemicals and phasing out a further nine over the next three to 10 years.
It's proposing to allow continued use of the remaining eight insecticides, but with extra controls.
The EPA is calling for public submissions and will hold hearings in March next year before making a final decision by June.