The kiwifruit industry does not approve the use of chemicals. Government has set up a two-stage regulatory approval process with the Environmental Protection Authority (formerly ERMA) assessing any risks to public health and the environment, with the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Group at the Ministry for Primary Industries setting conditions of use. Hydrogen cyanamide or Hi-cane was approved for use in 2006 by ERMA. So independent assessment has been conducted.
The 2006 Environmental Risk Management Agency (ERMA) review of this product found the risks and costs to society and the community are very low. It concluded hydrogen cyanamide provides massive benefits for the economy and poses only negligible to medium risks to the environment and human health and safety – risks which are adequately managed by existing rules and industry initiatives. I note that Hi-cane is in no way similar to Agent Orange. NZKGI is committed to safe spraying and we take complaints very seriously. If anyone or your writers of letters to the editor have concerns about spraying practices, I encourage you to contact either NZKGI on 0800 232 505 or Bay of Plenty Regional Council's hotline on 0800 884 883.

Mike Chapman, Chief Executive,
NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incoporated.