News Details

On 17 March 2026, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of New Zealand opened a consultation on proposed amendments to Schedule 2A of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) framework. The aim is to implement new obligations under the Stockholm Convention. The consultation covers three newly listed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and will run until 17 April 2026.

Three POPs Proposed for Restriction

The proposal targets the following three POPs, which were added to the Stockholm Convention in May 2025:

• Chlorpyrifos (CAS No. 2921-88-2): An organophosphate insecticide widely used in agriculture to control pests on crops. It is associated with neurodevelopmental toxicity and risks to human health and the environment.
• Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs): A group of industrial chemicals primarily used as plasticisers and flame retardants in PVC, rubber, adhesives, sealants, and metalworking fluids. They are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to aquatic organisms.
• Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs), their salts and related compounds: A subgroup of PFAS used in applications such as textiles, firefighting foams, and electronics. These substances are highly persistent and can accumulate in the environment and in living organisms.

New Zealand is required to prohibit or restrict the manufacture, import, export, and use of these substances, with measures expected to take effect on 16 December 2026.

Alignment with Existing National Measures

Chlorpyrifos is already subject to a national phase-out following a 2025 reassessment, with the full phase-out scheduled for 8 July 2027. The proposed measures would introduce restrictions earlier, from December 2026, to ensure compliance with international obligations.

For MCCPs and LC-PFCAs, the proposal introduces new controls in New Zealand, reflecting their recent global listing as POPs.

Exemptions and Transitional Provisions under Consideration

EPA is seeking stakeholder input on whether to adopt specific exemptions permitted under the Stockholm Convention.

Proposed exemptions for MCCPs may cover uses in flexible PVC, adhesives, sealants, coatings, metalworking fluids, and certain applications in the aerospace and defence sectors. Some uses may be permitted for limited periods, with extensions possible beyond 2030 in certain cases.

For LC-PFCAs, exemptions are also being considered for critical applications where alternatives may not yet be available.

Most exemptions would be time-limited, typically for five years from the date of entry into force.

In addition, the proposal includes provisions allowing the continued use of articles containing MCCPs or LC-PFCAs that are already in service that until the end of their lifecycle. This approach is intended to minimize disruption while preventing new uses.

Consultation Focus

EPA is specifically seeking feedback on the scope of exemptions, their duration, and their potential impacts on affected industries, including agriculture, plastics and polymers, coatings, electronics, and other sectors that rely on these substances.

The consultation can be found here.