User Guide to Thresholds and Classification - Environmental ...

437User Guide for Thresholds and Classifications23.4. Exemptions from the biocide classificationThe EPA has specifically exempt mating disruptors from the biocide classification if they do not trigger anyother hazard classification, as set out below (see EPA, 2011).23.4.1. Mating disruptorsInsect pheromones and other chemical substances are sometimes used as mating disruptors, providingalternative strategies for managing insect pests such as the painted apple moth. Where pheromones andsimilarly used substances do not have specific inherent hazardous properties, they are not hazardoussubstances.However, there is still the question of whether the substance is designed for biocidal action. Biocidal actiontriggers the HSNO Act class 9 threshold, and is defined in the Hazardous Substances (Minimum Degrees ofHazard) Regulations 2001 as:biocidal action, in relation to a substance, means the substance causes mortality, inhibited growth, orinhibited reproduction in an organism.While the use of insect pheromones as mating disruptors may be considered to trigger the threshold forbiocidal action, the EPA considers that this goes outside the intentions of the HSNO Act, since the substanceis not directly acting on the reproductive function (it is simply confusing the male insects).The EPA considers that since mating disruption (using pheromones or other substances) does not directlyimpact on the reproductive function, but simply alters the behaviour of the target organism, such substancesdo not trigger the biocidal action threshold under the HSNO Act.ReferencesEPA, 2011. Interpretations and Explanations of Key Concepts for the HSNO Act. EPA, Wellington.http://www.epa.govt.nz/Publications/ER-PR-03-22-Key-Concepts-Master-File.pdfJanuary 2012 EPA0109