November, 1997
by Redmer Yska
ERMA New Zealand, the independent authority set up to implement the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms legislation, is seeking to establish partnerships with local government.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority has just concluded a comprehensive and highly successful consultation `roadshow' involving 13 public meetings and hui up and down the country. The aim was to collect feedback from the community on a proposed methodology for deciding on applications for the introduction of hazardous substances and new organisms.
Now the Authority is turning it's attention to other important questions such as how inspection and enforcement roles will be coordinated under HSNO - an issue with implications for the work of territorial local authorities.
The 1996 HSNO Act is aimed at tidying up a jumble of legislation for regulation hazardous substances and new organisms, including the Dangerous Goods, Explosives, Toxic Substances, Pesticides, Plants and Animals Acts. Though HSNO comes into force next year, much of the existing law and regulations will apply until the end of the transition period in the year 2000.
With the Authority not directly responsible for enforcing HSNO, it is expected that the primary inspection and enforcement roles will be carried out by agencies already involved in the control of hazardous substances and new organisms. For example, the Police will still check trucks to ensure that loads are properly packed and Occupational Safety and Health Inspectors will continue to check workplace safety.
But territorial authorities are likely to gain responsibility for areas not covered by other enforcement agencies such as public places and residential areas. They may also establish working relationships with other agencies to take on responsibilities for enforcing the Act, similar to the way dangerous goods inspectors operate at present. Territorial authorities will also continue to inspect and renew dangerous goods licenses under the transitional provisions of HSNO up until the year 2000.
Meanwhile ERMZ New Zealand is still developing its decision-making methodology - a task that must be completed before the HSNO Act becomes operational. Once it is up and running, the Authority will make decisions about importing and manufacturing toxic substances, genetic modification, new organism imports, explosives, flammable materials, biotechnology and corrosives.
ERMA New Zealand will take over much of the work currently undertaken by the Labour Department's Explosives and Dangerous Goods Inspectorate, and Health Ministry's Toxic Substances Board, MAF's Pesticides Board and the Interim Assessment Group on Genetically Modified Organisms. The aim is to provide a consistent means for dealing with environmental hazards using an open process involving much public input.
The Authority is an expert body made up of eight people with knowledge and experience with hazardous substances and new organisms, their effects and how they are used. Board members were appointed by the Environment Minister to whom ERMA New Zealand reports. With an annual budget expected to be about $5 million, the Authority will be built up progressively to a staff of around 18 by the time the Act comes into force.
For further information contact:
Karen Cronin,
Manager Communications.
Phone: 04 473 8426
or email to: enquiries@ermanz.govt.