New Zealand Chemical Inventory Information

The New Zealand Inventory of Chemicals (NZIoC) covers substances that were in commerce before 2001. The NZIoC currently lists 29,280 substances. It serves as a comprehensive database of chemicals currently in use within the country under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act). The inventory is maintained by the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Substances already listed on the NZIoC have relatively straightforward compliance requirements. Manufacturers and importers are only required to ensure compliance with the labelling, classification, and storage requirements set out in the HSNO Act.  Chemicals not listed must undergo a rigorous and often costly approval process, including the submission of detailed hazard and safety data. The approval timeframe can delay market entry, and there is no guarantee of acceptance if risks are deemed unacceptable. 

The NZIoC is regulated under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. 

• Listed Substances: Considered approved for use, with compliance focused on classification, labelling, and reporting. 

• Unlisted Substances: Must undergo a rigorous approval process, requiring environmental risk assessments, hazard testing, and EPA oversight. 

• New Substances: The Inventory ensures public health and environmental safety by balancing streamlined processes for listed chemicals with strict requirements for new substances. 

• Hazardous Substances: If a hazardous substance is not listed in the NZIoC and is intended for use in new products, it must be notified to EPA of New Zealand using form HSC14, with a 40 working day evaluation period. 

The NZIoC, managed under the HSNO Act, does not explicitly have a confidential section within its inventory. All approved chemicals are publicly listed in the NZIoC. However, there are provisions for specific details to be withheld in special circumstances if public disclosure poses significant risks to trade secrets or proprietary information. Companies seeking such protection must apply to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) during the chemical approval process. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that confidentiality does not compromise hazard communication or public safety.