The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act will only achieve its purpose of protecting the environment, and the health and safety of people and communities, if its provisions are complied with.
Everyone involved with new organisms (applicants, importers, developers, users, research institutions, and those involved in transport, storage and disposal) needs to comply with the Act. In practical terms this means complying with the controls that the Environmental Risk Management Authority applies to new organism approvals.
ERMA New Zealand expect most people will voluntarily comply with controls because they recognise they are necessary to achieve a safe environment and ensure safety of people and communities. However, the HSNO Act includes measures to enforce compliance.
ERMA New Zealand has an oversight role in enforcement, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) acting as the enforcement agency. This means MAF is responsible for ensuring that the controls under the HSNO Act for new organisms are complied with.
On this page you will find links to information on HSNO compliance and enforcement activity for new organisms:
- Annual reports from approval holders for field testing of genetically modified plants and animals
- Register of new organism incidents and inquiry reports
- Joint ERMA New Zealand - MAF containment standards for new organisms
- GMO field tests and outdoor GMO developments
- Raising Awareness Activities
- ERMA New Zealand's role in new organism compliance and enforcement
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's role in new organism compliance and enforcement
- Reporting non-compliance
For further information see:
- Enforcement & Compliance (quick guide) [pdf - 521 kb]
- Guide to HSNO for Enforcement Agencies (guide) [pdf - 715 kb]
- Overview of New Organisms information