News Details

Importers and manufacturers of certain hazardous substances in New Zealand must submit their annual reports under the Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice by 31 May 2026. The reports must cover activities carried out between 1 January and 31 December 2025.

The reporting obligation forms part of updated requirements introduced by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to improve oversight of hazardous substances placed on the New Zealand market.

Annual Reporting Requirements

Under the notice, importers and manufacturers of specific categories of hazardous substances must submit an annual report detailing the quantities imported or manufactured during the previous calendar year. The first reports, covering 2025 activities, must be submitted between 1 January and 31 May 2026 via EPA’s Hazardous Substances Reporting and Notifications (HSRN) portal.

The report must include information such as:

• Product name
• Substance approval (e.g. HSNO approval or group standard)
• Whether the substance is imported or manufactured
• Name of the active ingredient
• CAS number of the active ingredient (if applicable)
• Total quantity of the active ingredient (in kilograms) imported or manufactured during the relevant calendar year

Substances Covered by the Reporting Obligation

The annual reporting requirement applies to substances considered to have a higher potential for environmental exposure, including:

• Agrichemicals (e.g. pesticides, fumigants, plant growth regulators, and vertebrate toxic agents)
• Selected veterinary medicines used as parasiticides in large animals
• Timber treatment chemicals
• Antisapstain chemicals
• Antifouling paints

Purpose of the New Reporting System

EPA introduced the reporting requirement to obtain better information on the quantities and uses of hazardous substances in New Zealand. The collected data is intended to support improved regulatory oversight and chemical risk management.

Companies that import or manufacture substances falling within the scope of the notice are advised to ensure that the necessary records are in place to meet the 31 May 2026 reporting deadline.