There are new licensing laws covering vertebrate poisons. If you use these types of poisons you will need to obtain a Controlled Substances Licence in the near future.
How to obtain your replacement licence
- If you have a current VPC licence (issued by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority), check the table below to see the date you need to apply for a new one, i.e. the Controlled Substances Licence by.
- Contact a Test Certifiers several months before the date shown, they will issue the Controlled Substances Licence for you.
- You will need to fill out an application form for a Controlled Substances Licence and send it to your Test Certifier.
Important links
- Timeline for applying for new licences
- List of Test Certifiers who issue Controlled Substances Licences
- Application form for Controlled Substances Licence
- Vertebrate Toxic Agents and Fumigants Requiring a Licence [pdf - 128kb]
If you don't have a current licence
If you need to use vertebrate poisons and you don't have a current VPC licence you will need to apply for your licence. Contact a Test Certifier
Importers, manufacturers and suppliers
If you are an importer, manufacturer or supplier of vertebrate poisons you will need to obtain a Controlled Substances Licence before 30 April 2007. You should start the process of application for your Controlled Substances Licence during 2006 by contacting a Test Certifier.
More Information
The Law is Changing
Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996, from 1 November 2005 anyone who possesses (i.e. manufactures, sells, uses or stores) a licenced vertebrate toxic agent (VTAs) will need to obtain a Controlled Substances Licence.
1080 was transferred to the HSNO Act on 1 July 2005; See the Staged Implementation dates below for the transitional dates which will be applied to 1080.
Can I Get a Licence?
Tracked chemicals
All licensed VTAs will need to be tracked and only a Licence holder can take possession of a licenced VTA. To buy them a supplier will need to confirm there is a licence holder who will take responsibility for them. When a licence holder is not available the product must be secured.
Staged Implementation
Current VPC licence holders must have a new licence before the date specified below based on their surname.
| Surname Starts With | Licence Required By |
|---|---|
| A, B | Overdue |
| C | Overdue |
| D, E, F | 30 June 2006 |
| G, H | 31 August 2006 |
| I, J, K, L, M | 31 October 2006 |
| N, O, P | 30 November 2006 |
| Q, R, S | 31 January 2007 |
| T, U, V | 31 March 2007 |
| W, X, Y, Z | 30 April 2007 |
To obtain your licence, contact a Test Certifier. There will be a limited number of Test Certifiers who can issue Controlled Substances Licences so you should start applying from 1 July 2005, well before your transition date.
| Other important dates include: | VTAs Required By | 1080 Required By |
|---|---|---|
|
Packaging Provided you comply with the current packaging requirements you do not need to comply with the Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Regulations 2001 until the date shown (right). |
31 October 2006 |
30 June 2007 |
|
Identification, Documentation and Signage Provided you comply with the current identification, documentation and signage requirements you do not need to comply with the relevant HSNO Regulations until the date shown (right). |
31 October 2006 |
30 June 2007 |
|
Fire Extinguishers and Emergency Management Response Plans Provided you comply with the current fire extinguishers and emergency management response plans requirements you do not need to comply with regulations 21 to 34 of the Hazardous Substances (Emergency Management) Regulations 2001 until the date shown (right). |
31 October 2005 |
30 June 2006 |
|
Tolerable Exposure Limits You do not need to comply with regulation 27 of the Hazardous Substances (Classes 6, 8, and 9 Controls) Regulations 2001 until the date shown (right). See Schedule 5 of the transfer notices for these tolerable exposure limits. |
1 May 2005 |
1 January 2006 |