New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recently issued in Gazette the Hazardous Substances (International Regulators) Notice 2023, making public the confirmed list of recognized international regulators. The Notice will take effect on October 1, 2023.
The listed international regulators are:
Australia | Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme |
Canada | Pest Management Regulatory Agency |
EU | European Food Safety Authority European Chemicals Agency European Commission |
UK | Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health and Safety Executive |
US | United States Environmental Protection Agency |
The assessment information from these listed international regulators will be used to assess and reassess hazardous substances through two new pathways aimed at streamlining the processes under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act).
" These pathways allow the EPA to:
Approve a substance via a rapid assessment if the same use has been approved by a recognized international regulator - unless it will have significant cultural, environmental, and/or human health effects.
Amend the hazard classifications or rules for the use of an existing substance to align with recognized regulators. "
Background
To streamline the hazardous substances assessment and reassessment process, New Zealand adopted the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Hazardous Substances Assessment) Amendment Bill in October 2022 (CL News). The Bill also required the EPA to develop a list of appropriate international regulators. A draft Notice was issued on 30 March 2023 for public consultation until 24 May 2023. The EPA approved the Notice on 26 July 2023 and released it in NEW Zealand Gazette on 16 August 2023 (read more).
