News Details

New Zealand’s hazardous substances reporting framework has entered a new operational phase with the launch of the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) Hazardous Substances Reporting and Notifications (HSRN) online portal. The platform supports compliance with the reporting obligations hazardous substances that came into force on 1 January 2026.

Importers and manufacturers must provide specified business information within 30 days of first importing or manufacturing a hazardous substance and ensure that these details are kept up to date in accordance with national reporting rules.

The portal also facilitates annual reporting for certain regulated substance categories, such as timber treatment chemicals and antifouling paints. Reports covering the 2025 calendar year must be submitted by  31 May 2026.

To avoid duplication in reporting, EPA has clarified that re-packagers and re-labellers are not subject to the reporting obligation, and that bulk imports of active ingredients only need to be reported once they are incorporated into finished products.

Who must report
Under the Consolidated Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice 2015, reporting obligations apply to:

• Importers of hazardous substances for supply to others in New Zealand or for workplace use.
• Manufacturers of hazardous substances for supply to others or for workplace use other than immediate use.
• Importers and manufacturers of certain explosives.

An annual report is required for:

• Agrichemicals, including pesticides and selected veterinary medicines used as parasiticides in large commodity animals.
• Timber treatment chemicals
• Antisapstain chemicals
• Antifouling paints

Who is exempt
The notice does not apply to:

• Importers or manufacturers of hazardous substances for personal use only.
• International exporters: reporting obligations apply to New Zealand-based importers or manufacturers.
• Laboratories operating under approved codes of practice, including Crown Research Institutes and university exempt laboratories.
• Small-scale research involving hazardous substances.

Annual reporting is not required for:

• Fertilisers
• Methyl bromide
• Ethanedinitrite (EDN)
• Substances imported or manufactured under a containment approval issued under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act.

For more information, visit the EPA website here.