November 3, 1997
by Redmer Yska
Entrepreneurs eager to import one-humped camels or free-range pythons into New Zealand will soon have to put their case to a watchdog named ERMA.
After next April, no new animal, plant or other organism can enter the country without the say-so of the new Environmental Risk Management Authority, known as ERMA New Zealand. Substances with hazardous properties, such as pesticides, herbicides and explosives will also come under the ERMZ microscope.
New Zealand has already learned some hard and expensive lessons from allowing new organisms to come into the country with little or no assessment. Rabbits, possums, gorse and old man's beard are among the more notorious examples.
Overseeing the introduction and use of other new organisms like the recently illegally introduced RCD virus will be one of the key responsibilities of the new Authority. Set up to run the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO) put in place last year, ERMA New Zealand will use an open process involving much public input to make decisions in this often contentious area.
In addition to adjudicating on the importation of new organisms, ERMA's main role will be setting controls on substances with hazardous properties that are imported or manufactured.
Used in such diverse areas as fuelling cars, spraying crops or cleaning houses, these substances have become 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 Authority will provide a `one-stop shop' for dealing with hazardous substances and new organism applications. It will take over work currently undertaken by the Labour Department's Explosives and Dangerous Goods Inspectorate, the Health Ministry's Toxic Substances Board, MAF's Pesticides Board and the Interim Assessment Group on Genetically Modified Organisms.
The fledgling organisation has a board of eight chaired by Bill Falconer and a current staff of nine based in Wellington. Board members were appointed by the Environment Minister to whom ERMA New Zealand reports. With an annual budget of $5 million, the Authority will be built up progressively to a staff of around 18 by next April
During October and early November, the Authority has been mounting a consultation `roadshow' involving a well-attended round of public meetings and hui up and down the country. It has been collecting feedback on a proposed `methodology' for deciding on applications for the introduction of hazardous substances and new organisms.
Based on draft procedures contained in three consultation documents, the decision-making needs to be developed and approved by Government before ERMA New Zealand starts work. Input is being sought from the public, industry, the science community, Maori and environmental organisations.
"We are confident that the proposed framework will strengthen and streamline the decision process in this area", says the Authority's chief executive Bas Walker.
"ERMA New Zealand is charged with protecting New Zealand's environment for New Zealander's, so one of our primary responsibilities is to ensure our decisions reflect the concerns of the community."
The Authority is also currently working through a series of test cases, each of which encapsulates the range of issues it will need to consider when making judgements on applications. The aim of this exercise is to enable it to further refine decision-making processes. The hypothetical cases involve:
- Implications of importing one-humped dromedary camels, initially for adventure tourism, where they would be used in trekking. Using camels for meat and skin is also covered in this test case. What would the risks, benefits, and likely threats to ecosystems be?
- Issues arising from bringing in a new petrol with 95 percent fewer emissions than existing gasoline. Despite it's cleaner properties, the product potentially carries a higher risk to pump attendants and others handling it.
- Use of a chemical designed to control dust mites in carpets. How would the Authority weigh up the positive benefits for households, especially in preventing childhood asthma, against exposing humans to a form of pesticide?
"These test cases represent good practical examples of the kinds of issues the Authority will be grappling with," says Bas Walker.
"Working through the different risk management options involved in each case will be a useful way to prepare for the challenging task ahead of us."
For further information contact:
Karen Cronin,
Manager Communications.
Phone: 04 473 8426
or email to: enquiries@ermanz.govt.