September 19, 2000
A new website has been developed to help people learn about hazardous substances and new organisms in New Zealand. The first stage of the site - which can be found at www.hsno.govt.nz - has gone live today. The full site will be published by the end of the year.
"Hazardous substances" are used widely in homes, industries and on the farm. They are found in everything from dishwasher powders, hairsprays and bleaches, to pesticides, printing inks and petrol. A "new organism" is any plant, animal, or microbe coming into New Zealand for the first time. It also includes genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Both are covered under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.
The website explains the background to the HSNO law and what it means for different industries and groups in the community. Some people need to apply for approval from the Environmental Risk Management Authority to introduce new organisms or substances to the country. Others need to know the rules for managing, handling and disposing of them safely.
There is strong public interest in the use of industrial chemicals and pesticides, bringing in new plant or animal species and the development of GMOs.
The HSNO Act affects nearly every part of the New Zealand economy. This website is aimed at helping potential applicants and users understand the system and how the law affects them. They may be importers, manufacturers or scientists. Other people may wish to make submissions on applications. Many small businesses and farmers will also be affected when the hazardous substances part of the law starts early next year. People who use, transport, store and sell substances will also need to know how the issues affect them.
But the site is also designed for organizations such as industry associations and local authorities - and the wider public including iwi, community groups, teachers and students.
The website has been produced with support from the Ministry for the Environment's Sustainable Management Fund. Information for the site was supplied by the Ministry and ERMA New Zealand. The site has links to many other agencies involved in HSNO including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Occupational Safety and Health service of the Department of Labour.
For further information contact:
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Kathy McNeill |
Karen Cronin |