ERMA New Zealand, in conjunction with the Ministry for the Environment, is calling for public submissions on proposals to amend the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Personnel Qualifications) Regulations 2001.
These regulations set out the qualifications and experience required for persons handling certain (generally highly hazardous) hazardous substances and new organisms, issuing certifications under the Act and enforcing the HSNO Act.
Operational experience with these regulations has identified ambiguities, inconsistencies and provisions that are impractical, unnecessary or unduly restrictive in some situations. Amendments to the Personnel Qualifications Regulations are therefore proposed to address these concerns. To simplify and improve the regulations, amendments are also proposed that would bring into the Personnel Qualifications Regulations provisions that are in other related HSNO regulations that prescribe the qualifications needed by personnel operating under the HSNO Act.
Please note that this consultation relates only to the matters contained in the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Personnel Qualifications) Regulations 2001 and does not concern other parts of the HSNO regulatory framework, such as the hazard classification assigned to particular substances.
The discussion paper will be available for public comment from 20 th April 2010 until 24 th May 2010.
Discussion Paper Improving the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Personnel Qualifications) Regulations 2001. [Part 1, Part 2]
The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Personnel Qualifications) Regulations 2001 is available at:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2001/0122/latest/DLM43117.html
Written feedback is preferred and we encourage you to make your submissions by writing your comments in the spaces provided in the document. This should then be forwarded by email, mail or fax to:
ERMA New Zealand
PO Box 131
Wellington 6140
Fax: +64 4 9140433
Email:
samantha.smith@ermanz.govt.nz
Please mark all submissions to the attention of Samantha Smith
George Hewitt, ERMA New Zealand, on +64 4 9162426 by telephone or
george.hewitt@ermanz.govt.nz
by email.