4 February 2026
Ref: ENQ-50223-W5H3Q1
Levonne Scott
[FYI request #33339 email]
Tēnā koe Levonne,
I refer to your request for official information received on 20 December 2025:
We would like to know what the chemical usage is in New Zealand yearly. And total usage
of glyphosate in nz.
We understand the word usage in this context to mean how glyphosate or other chemicals are
used in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In April 2021 the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
carried out a call for information about glyphosate and later released a summary report which
contains information on how the chemical is used and viewed in the community, but not the
amount used
: Glyphosate in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Substances approved for use in New Zealand have a specific approval document that can be
found in our database
: Approved hazardous substances with controls | EPA. This will often give
some conditions on the way certain chemicals can be used, such as restrictions on crop type or
application rate (this is discussed further below in your question regarding the EPA’s role in
hazardous substance regulation).
Glyphosate was first approved for use in New Zealand in the 1970s. The EPA actively monitors
the status of glyphosate in New Zealand and overseas, reviewing new information as it becomes
available. In 2024, a decision-making committee determined that grounds do not exist to
reassess glyphosate after considering information provided by Environmental Law Initiative (ELI)
and the assessment completed by the EPA.
You can find further information in the decision repo
rt: APP204718 Grounds for reassessment
Decision
The EPA does not hold any further information on the usage of glyphosate in New Zealand.
Therefore, I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(g)(i) of the Official Information
Act 1982 (OIA) – that the information requested is not held by the department and we have no
grounds for believing that the information is held by another department.
We are aware that the EPA have done a safety assessment on chemical usage in New
Zealand, we would like a copy of the chemical usage in new zealand, the most latest
safety assessment on chemical usage in nz, and a breakdown of how you come to your
conclusion.
The EPA does not currently collect information or assess the safety of chemical usage totally, or
the amount used each year. Each substance approved does go through an assessment
process, but that is for the specific substance in question, and the details of the assessment are
published in our database for each substance application. Because the EPA holds no specific
information on total chemical usage in New Zealand, no safety assessment of this information
has been made. This part of your request is therefore refused under section 18(e) of the OIA –
the information does not exist.
We would like to know the yearly amount of glyphosate used in nz and the cost of such
usage.
As discussed above, the EPA does not hold information about the amount of glyphosate used
each year, nor the costs associated with its usage. This part of your request is therefore refused
under section 18(e) of the OIA – the information does not exist.
However, from 1 January 2026, all importers and manufacturers of hazardous substances must
give us additional business and substance information. The new requirements of the Hazardous
Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice 2015 mean those who import, or manufacture
glyphosate or glyphosate-containing substances (and other substances) are required to report
quantities to the EPA annually. You can find more information about the new requirements here:
Consolidated Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice 2015 | EPA
We would like to know what role you play in the chemical usage in New Zealand. And how
you regulate that council are abiding by the rules.
In New Zealand, hazardous substances need to be approved under the Hazardous Substances
and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act) before they can be imported or manufactured. The
EPA role is to receive applications to approve the importation or manufacture of new hazardous
substances, and to set the rules to manage their risks when used. Under the HSNO Act, a
substance needs to be classified based on its:
• physical hazards (such as flammability)
• human health hazards (such as acute toxicity)
• environmental hazards (such as whether it is hazardous to the aquatic environment).
A substance needs to be classified so it can be given the correct approval and the appropriate
safety measures can be applied to it. An approved substance has controls (rules) applied to it to
manage its risks, to safeguard people and the environment. These rules are set out in the
approval document.
In addition, all hazardous substances must comply with the standard rules given in the EPA
Notices, which put in place controls for all substances - though these can be varied by specific
controls on individual approvals.
All users of hazardous substances, including councils, must follow these rules. If you think that
rules on hazardous substances are not being followed, you can report it to our Compliance,
Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) team through our contact centre:
0800 225 537 (0800 CALLEPA) or [email address].
Do citizens have to get permission / spray plan from the EPA to aerial spray
agrochemicals in significant ecological environments?
Substances can only be sprayed aerially if the approval for that substance allows for aerial
application. There will typically be controls on this use specifically to minimise spray drift away
from the application area and buffer zones for sensitive areas.
Some substances require applicators to get permission from the EPA before application, though
this is uncommon.
I hope this information is helpful. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision under section 28(3) of the OIA. You can contact the Ombudsman
on 0800 802 602, or by email at [email address]
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. If you have any
further queries, please do not hesitate to contact
us via [email address]
We may publish your request and our response on our website
, www.epa.govt.nz. We make OIA
responses available so others can read more about the work we do and the questions we are
asked. Any information that might identify you will be removed to protect your privacy.
Nāku noa nā
Dr Lauren Fleury
Acting General Manager, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
