Amendment to New Zealand EPA Notice: Important Update for Importers and Manufacturers of Hazardous Substances

On June 12, 2024, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) published the Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Amendment Notice 2024 under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. This notice contains important updates to the regulatory requirements for hazardous substances.

Key Highlights

• Objective of the Notice: The amendment aims to improve the management of hazardous substances by requiring additional information from importers and manufacturers. This includes annual reporting of quantities imported or manufactured, providing New Zealand Business Numbers (NZBN), and specific details for certain explosives.

• Consultation Process: EPA publicly announced its intention on December 13, 2023, and invited comments until March 28, 2024. Feedback from relevant stakeholders was taken into account in finalizing the notice.

• Effective Dates: Certain clauses (13, 14 and 15) will take effect on January 1, 2025, while the remainder of the notice will come into force on January 1, 2026.

Detailed Amendments

• Definitions: New definitions include terms like "agrichemical," "group standard title," "HSNO approval number" and others related to hazardous substances.

• Notification Requirements: Importers and manufacturers must provide prescribed information, including their New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) and HSNO approval number.

• Annual Reporting: Introduces annual reporting requirements for identified substances and certain explosives. These reports must include the name, category, approval number and quantity of the substances.

• Multi-Shipment Import Certificates: EPA may now issue certificates for multiple shipments of explosives, valid for up to 12 months, subject to certain conditions.

Compliance and Enforcement

EPA collects this information to support its regulatory functions, including compliance and enforcement activities, data analysis, and reporting.

Transitional Provisions

Importers and manufacturers who have already complied with the initial notification requirements must update EPA with additional specified information within 30 days of the commencement date of this notice.

Conclusion

The Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Amendment Notice 2024 is a significant step towards better management of hazardous substances in New Zealand. Importers and manufacturers should review the full details of the Notice to ensure compliance with the new requirements. For more information, visit the EPA website or contact their Wellington office.