A Mount Maunganui company's application to make or import a potentially harmful fungicide is declined by the Environmental Protection Authority this month.

EPA's Decision-Making Committee chair Kerry Laing says the product, Tui Disease Eliminator, is likely to harm more than it helped.

'Even with controls in place, there would be significant [non-negligible] risks to people from the use of the substance in the home garden environment.”

Tui is prevented by the EPA from using an active ingredient already on the market.

The committee concluded that while 'default regulations require persons handling the substance to use protective clothing and equipment, it is not realistic to assume that home gardeners would wear [it]”.

Perhaps more critically, young children who came into contact with recently-treated surfaces would be at risk of exposure to the toxin.

Kerry says the EPA's major concern is the welfare of the public.

'[Our] role is to oversee applications for hazardous substances. We put controls in place to manage the risks of hazardous substances, to safeguard people and the environment.”

The garden supplies business, Tui Products Limited, was named this year's ‘NZ Hardware Awards Supplier of the Year – Garden', for the third year in a row, and was highly commended for the ‘Readers Digest Trusted Brand Award', Garden category.

Sales and marketing general manager Glen Forgie says the century-old Kiwi company isn't planning to fight the EPA's ruling on the fungicide.

'While there are several other products on the market containing the same active ingredient, we accept the decision of the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority not to grant registration for this particular product at this time.”

He assures the public that every Tui product sold in New Zealand is EPA-approved.

As for the active ingredient's prior New Zealand approval, in competitors' products, Glen says that's why it seemed likely the EPA would accept this registration request.

'However, Tui respects the valuable work the EPA does for our environment, and that they can change their view on an active ingredient's suitability for the home garden market at any time.

'We will continue to work with the EPA to ensure the most suitable products are available to New Zealand's home gardeners.”