A new possum poison called MZP Paste has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

MZP Paste will be used for ground control of possums. Its use will be confined to non-aerial, hand-laid application and restricted to use within specified types of bait-station.

MZP Paste has been designed as an alternative to 1080 and other vertebrate poisons in certain situations.

MZP Paste is a poison substance for the protection of indigenous flora and fauna that has lesser hazardous properties than fast-acting poisons in current use, does not contaminate the food chain, and when used as directed is unlikely to place non-target species at risk, says the EPA report.

The application was made by Pest Tech Limited, with support from Connovation Ltd, Lincoln University and the Animal Health Board.

MZP Paste may provide a safer alternative to 1080 for pest control. The active ingredient zinc phosphide is extensively used in international markets that New Zealand trades with. This will allow exports to continue if overseas markets regulate against 1080, an important consideration because the only offshore countries now using 1080 are the USA and Australia. Zinc phosphide will not leave residues in venison for export or domestic consumption.

Strict conditions have been placed on its use to protect applicators, bystanders and the environment from potential adverse effects arising from use of the substance.

Because MZP Paste has the potential to liberate phosphine gas in contact with water or water vapour, additional requirements are required to ensure that packaging is adequate to prevent water or moisture contacting the substance.

Conditions of use include requiring operators to obtain permission from the Department of Conservation (for operations carried out on Conservation land) and Ministry of Health to use the substance, ensuring the substance is only handled by trained and licensed users and that MZP Paste is only applied using certain types of bait-stations. It cannot be used for aerial application.

The application to introduce MZP Paste was made in 2009.