2/08/2006
- Thanks to new Group Standards for managing hazardous
substances, New Zealand now has one of the best
systems in the world, Environment Minister David
Benson-Pope said today.
From 1 July this year, all hazardous
substances in New Zealand have been governed by
The Hazardous Substances Act 1996 (HSNO). The
Dangerous Goods Act and Toxic Substances Act cease
to apply.
Over the past few years approximately
5000 products of various types were transferred
from old legislation to the new Act. These include
dangerous goods, pesticides and veterinary medicines,
and more recently over 118,000 notified toxic
substances (NOTS).
“This puts us in an excellent
position internationally. New Zealand is now a
world leader in its comprehensive approach to
hazardous substance management. We have fully
adopted the United Nations globally harmonised
system of classification,” Mr Benson-Pope said.
“These innovative group standards
set a benchmark for the safe management of hazardous
substances throughout their life-cycle.
“I would personally like to
thank the hundreds of business people and larger
industry groups for their cooperation and patience
to achieve the transfer of hazardous substances
to the new Group Standards under the Hazardous
Substances and New Organisms Act.
“The Environmental Risk Management
Authority’s (ERMA) pragmatism, perseverance and
commitment to the transfer project, is admirable,
and industry played a significant part and I appreciate
their encouragement and on-going involvement.
“The completion of transfer
on 1 July was the result of many years of hard
work and will improve the protection of our health
and environment, while allowing us to benefit
from well managed substances,” Mr Benson-Pope
said,
The new group standards allow
two years for importers, manufacturers and users
of hazardous substances to progressively implement
group standard conditions.
Hon David Benson-Pope
