AgroPages-New Zealand EPA issued new rules for hazardous substances management-Agricultural news

The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has created its first EPA Notice, allowing for the collection of information about those importing and manufacturing hazardous substances. This is ground breaking for hazardous substance management in New Zealand as, for the first time, importers and manufacturers will be able to be identified through a central repository.

The EPA notice is a new tool available to the EPA as a result of the simplification of hazardous substances management in New Zealand through changes to the HSNO Act and the development of new legislation focused on health and safety in the workplace (the Health and Safety at Work Act). EPA Notices allow the EPA to make new rules to manage the risks from hazardous substances without having to seek legislative or regulatory change from government.

The Importers and Manufacturers Information Notice was gazetted on 22 October 2015 and comes into effect on 19 November 2015.

From this date, anyone who imports into New Zealand or makes a hazardous substance for sale or other commercial use has 30 days from when they first manufacture or import the hazardous substance to register some basic details with the EPA.

The EPA is also preparing seven other EPA notices to cover qualification requirements for hazardous substances enforcement officers, hazardous substance classification, labelling, packaging, safety data sheets, disposal and hazardous property controls. You can learn more on the EPA website.