On this page
- What is an inhibitor?
- The requirements for registering some inhibitor products
- Getting approval to undertake research or trials
- One-page summary of registration process
- The full inhibitor registration process
- How to prove your inhibitor works
- How to lodge your inhibitor in the Greenhouse Gas Inventory
- How you might streamline the inhibitor approval process
What is an inhibitor?
An inhibitor is a substance, mix of substances or biological compound that mitigates adverse impacts of an agricultural activity on the environment, or mitigates emissions that contribute to climate change relating to plants or animals.
Inhibitors must be categorised as either agricultural chemicals or veterinary medicines. This is based on how they are to be used:
- Agricultural chemical-based inhibitors: These are inhibitors applied to pasture or feed crops, or crops that may be used as animal feed. This would include the situation where animals would graze the treated crop or forage.
- Veterinary medicine-based inhibitors: These are inhibitors administered directly to the animal, such as a vaccine, in-feed or in-water treatment, or bolus.
The requirements for registering some inhibitor products
Anyone who wishes to import, manufacture, or sell a methane, urease, or nitrification inhibitor may need to have it registered under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997. This will change to all types of inhibitor products once the ACVM Act is amended. Registration is to:
- identify and manage any risks that agricultural compounds (like inhibitors) could pose for public health, agricultural security, animal welfare, and trade of primary produce
- ensure that products are correctly labelled.
MPI will take the appropriate regulatory action if you import, market, or sell an unauthorised inhibitor product that requires registration.
Registering an inhibitor product can involve substantial technical expertise and input. If you or your company have limited experience of ACVM regulations and processes, you should consider employing a consultant to help you.
Products with novel active ingredients can take longer to process than known product types. Additionally, applicants are urged to engage with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), ACVM, and agricultural greenhouse gas teams as early as possible, and certainly well in advance of on-farm greenhouse gas reporting requirements that are likely to be implemented in 2025.
Getting approval to undertake research or trials
If you want to limit the use of your inhibitor to research or trials, there are several ways to do this, depending on the type of product you have.
Products with an existing trade name can be approved under a 'provisional registration'. Follow the relevant provisional registration guidelines.
Provisional registration guidelines for agricultural chemicals
Provisional registration guidelines for veterinary medicines
Other products can be exempted from full registration under 'special circumstances' provisions.
Find out whether your product qualifies and get guidance on the special circumstance process
Authorisation generally depends on the applicant meeting certain conditions, which can include complying with an approved operating plan. Products can also be exempted from ACVM registration if they have been generally recognised as safe by MPI.
Find out about exemptions from registering an agricultural chemical
List of already exempted products – NZ Legislation
One-page summary of registration process
While we encourage you to read through all the guidance on this page before applying, we've also prepared a one-page summary of the ACVM application process.
ACVM inhibitor registration process [PDF, 142 KB]
Documents about inhibitor registration and regulations
Guide to the new rules for inhibitors (2023) [PDF, 734 KB]
Regulatory control of agricultural compounds in New Zealand [PDF, 322 KB]
Overview of risk management under the ACVM Act 1997 [PDF, 269 KB]
ACVM inhibitor frequently asked questions [PDF, 377 KB]