The HSNO Act is an overarching environmental and health and safety law which establishes a consistent process for assessing the risks posed by hazardous substances and new organisms and for setting national controls to manage their environmental effects and risks.

The purpose of the HSNO Act is to protect the environment, and the health and safety of people and communities, by preventing or managing the adverse effects of hazardous substances and new organisms.

The HSNO Act is administered by the Ministry for the Environment, and implemented and enforced by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which regulates the introduction and use of any hazardous substances, and also enforces any hazardous substance controls.