October, 1997
by Redmer Yska
The main job of the Environmental Risk Management Agency (ERMA New Zealand) is to implement the new Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO).
ERMA New Zealand will be responsible for considering applications under the Act.
What is a hazardous substance?
Hazardous substances are a part of everyday life in the late 20th century. Used in fuelling our cars, spraying our crops, cleaning our houses, and earning our income, they are an essential part of the way New Zealand society operates.
But hazardous substances also pose risks to the environment and to human health. For example, dishwater detergents, methylated spirits, bleaches and petrol can all be dangerous or poisonous. The long term effects of many common substances have become known only recently.
The HSNO Act classifies as hazardous a substance if it has one of the following properties:
- an explosive nature;
- flammability;
- ability to oxidise (i.e. can accelerate a fire);
- corrosives, acute or chronic toxicity;
- ecotoxicity, with or without bioaccumulation (i.e. can kill living things either directly or by building up in the environment);
- can generate a hazardous substance on contact with air or water.
Many substances have more than one dangerous property. For example, methylated spirits is toxic and flammable.
Before the HSNO Act was passed last year, each property had different requirements for labeling, packaging and transport. Some of these requirements were contradictory and added to users' costs without improving safety.
What is a new organism?
Any animal, plant or microbe not currently present in New Zealand is called a new organism. They can be introduced - or developed here through genetic manipulation.
Introduced plants and animals have provided enormous benefits but also problems. Advances in the science of genetic manipulation can also be beneficial, but will require controls to limit risks. A recent case that led to a worldwide debate was the genetic manipulation of a British sheep named Dolly.
Organisms can arrive in several ways. They can be unintentionally introduced, such as fruit flies arriving on imported food. They can be introduced intentionally, such as sheep, pines, trout, clover and roses. Genetic manipulation can crate new organisms here in New Zealand.
In the past, many new organisms have been introduced with little or no assessment and have later caused serious problems. Examples include rabbits, possums, gorse, old man's beard and tuberculosis, which threaten ecosystems and harm exports.
The HSNO Act covers the deliberate introduction or creation of new organisms. The Act will work with the Biosecurity Act to ensure unwanted pests and diseases are kept out of New Zealand.
For further information email to: enquiries@ermanz.govt.