Some Tauranga organisations are having their say on the use of methyl bromide at an Environmental Risk Management Authority public hearing on May 20.
ERMA is undertaking this hearing as one of five around the country as it reassesses the use of this chemical to remove biohazards from export products such as logs.

About 40 people protested the use of methyl bromide in Tauranga last month.

The Tauranga hearing is at the Oceanside Resort and Twin Towers Mount Maunganui.
The public can attend the hearings, but only submitters may present their views.
Apart from Environment BOP, the scheduled submitters are: C3 Ltd, Carter Holt Harvey Pulp and Paper Ltd, Rayonier New Zealand Ltd and Genera Ltd.
After reviewing the submissions, ERMA is likely to recommend the continued availability of methyl bromide with controls for quarantine and pre-shipment purposes.
A final decision, however, will be made by members of the committee after consideration of the submissions and evidence provided at public hearings.
If the adverse effects of using methyl bromide outweigh the positive effects, after taking account of all safety precautions that can be imposed and the likely effects of the substance being unavailable, then ERMA may not approve the continued availability of the chemical.

Click here to read about the Green party supported protest against the use of methyl bromide at Port of Tauranga in April.