- PDF Version (122K) - Print Friendly - Help

AgVetLink: Number 53, December 2005

OECD Pesticides Programme Meetings in Wellington

During the week of 28 November - 2 December, NZFSA and ERMA New Zealand jointly hosted a series of meetings and events on behalf of the OECD’s Working Group on Pesticides Registration Steering Group and their Risk Reduction Steering Group. The meetings attracted record numbers of delegates from around the OECD member countries and New Zealand regulators.

Application technology

On the Monday, a field trip to the Wairarapa was held to show the delegates actual spraying equipment in action. Aerial and boom spraying were seen in the pastoral setting, air blast spraying in an apple orchard and over-row spraying in a vineyard. The demonstrations and subsequent discussions with the owners of the properties ably assisted the delegates in their seminar discussions on the use of application technology in pesticide risk reduction that took place on the Wednesday. This seminar allowed widespread discussion of this very relevant issue, and will assist the OECD in developing appropriate recommendations to assist all countries utilising pesticides in food production.

Steering Group meetings

The Risk Reduction Steering Group met on the Tuesday, and the Registration Steering Group on Thursday and Friday. These meetings further progressed OECD work in promoting reduced risk pesticide use and the harmonisation of data packages and work sharing amongst OECD countries that should lead to large savings in time and resources involved in the registration processes that are in place.

A further topic that was broached for the first time was that of re-examination of the current toxicology testing paradigm by the USA. They are looking at the value of the individual tests that are currently required – for example, does a two-year feeding study in a rat give any more or different data than is obtained from a one-year or even a 90-day study? The likely outcome could well see some current tests no longer required with large reductions in the numbers of animals used in testing, as well as savings in resources as tests may no longer be required.

Media event

At the Thursday evening media event, the Minister of Food Safety (Hon Annette King) stated New Zealand’s commitment to the OECD vision statement that seeks to have work sharing, and fully harmonised data requirements in all OECD countries within ten years. This event was attended by several ambassadors from the Asia/Pacific region, and so helped promote this message to non-OECD countries as well.

The delegates were very impressed with the venue of the meetings (Te Papa), the weather (Wellington was amazingly benign for that week), and the countryside. Many expressed their commitment to arranging holidays in New Zealand to further explore what this country has to offer.