Editorial: Logging pesticide use outmoded

Last year, 118 tonnes of methyl bromide was used to fumigate logs and containers at Napier Port. Photo / File

Opinion

The Ministry for Primary Industries says that methyl bromide is a "highly effective" fumigant used for treating products for export to control quarantine pests.

Of that, there's no doubt.

Doubtless too it's colourless, odourless, highly toxic to humans and damages the planet's ozone layer.

Last year, 118 tonnes of it was used to fumigate logs and containers at Napier Port.

Two things to bear in mind are that Napier's tonnage isn't high compared with other ports and, the arguments for retaining it as a biosecurity tool seem strong.

Namely, the export of logs to markets like China and India (where treatment before export is mandatory) could be threatened without a substitute treatment.

And, even if an alternative is found, will importing companies automatically accept its use?

However, we've done very little to seek an alternative; we're content with the devil we know.

Because despite the 2020 deadline where all methyl bromide fumigations must use recapture technology (the capturing of emissions after treatment is finished), how will it be safely disposed of?

Here's where it gets even more confounding: its use in most countries is banned - yet in the picturesque, enviro-savvy, sustainable Shaky Isles our usage is increasing.

How can this be? Alongside pine, we also like to export the idea of a caring nation. It'd be nice to think we can at least match the environmental IQ of other countries.

Seems to me we should be less worried about what's acceptable to trading partners and more concerned about what's acceptable to us.