Importation or Manufacture of any Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) in Containment

The HSNO Act was amended in 2003 to bring it into line with the legal requirements of the Stockholm Convention. This amendment, which came into force on 23 December 2004, prohibits or restricts the importation and use of certain POPs in New Zealand. One of the effects of this amendment is that a containment approval must now be obtained from ERMA New Zealand by any laboratory that currently holds, or wishes to import or manufacture, certain POPs for use as an analytical standard or for research.

The relevant POPs are:

  • Aldrin
  • Chlordane
  • DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(chlorophenyl)ethane)
  • Dieldrin
  • Endrin
  • Heptachlor
  • Hexachlorobenzene
  • Mirex
  • Toxaphene
  • Polychlorinated biphenyl
To assist laboratories with the application process, ERMA New Zealand has prepared a partially completed pro forma containment application form. Laboratories who currently hold, or intend to import or manufacture, one or more of the POPs listed above must complete the application form and send it back to ERMA New Zealand for assessment. All relevant sections of the application form must be completed, including provision of a management plan which outlines how your laboratory intends to comply with the recommended controls. A list of recommended controls for containing the substances is provided in Appendix 1 of the form.

The statutory time-frame for processing each application is 30 working days, after which time you will be notified of our decision. Currently there is no fee for these applications.

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