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There are two public consultations open for submission on the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) website now, both of which concern the reassessment of hazardous substances. One consultation is for the reassessment of benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) [1], this reassessment has already finished, and the proposed changes are currently subject to public consultation. The second public consultation has been issued to gather data and information on hydrogen cyanamide containing products [2].
A reassessment is a formal review of the rules controlling a substance that is already in use in New Zealand. The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act outlines a process for reassessing hazardous chemicals that must be followed by the EPA or any other party who applies for a reassessment. There are two steps in the reassessment process. The first step is called grounds, in which the applicant shall display sufficient evidence that reassessment is necessary. The second step is the reassessment, and a sub-group will decide the reassessment of the HSNO Decision-making Committee. To learn more about the reassessment process, please click here.
Reassessment of benzalkonium chlorides
The hazard classifications of BACs and substances that contain BACs have been reviewed, and the revised hazard classifications for these substances have been proposed, too. All proposed changed can be found here. The hazard classification of 9 BACs and 52 mixtures containing BACs are proposed to change. The updated hazard types mainly include acute oral toxicity, acute dermal toxicity, skin irritation/corrosiveness, eye irritation/corrosiveness, etc. The comment submission facility will close at 5 pm on February 27, 2020.
Call for information on hydrogen cyanamide products.
EPA is calling for information from industry, users, other interested parties, or the public relating to the use, practices, and effects of hydrogen cyanamide-containing substances. The EPA wants to determine if there are grounds to reassess the usage of products containing 520 to 540 g/L of hydrogen cyanamide. The submitted information will be used to prepare the reassessment application, ascertain the risks and benefits of the proposal, and help EPA make an initial proposal on how the substance should be managed in the future. To learn more about the proposal, please click here to read the application document.
The reassessment probably involves six of the hydrogen cyanamide bud promoting products currently in use (soluble concentrate containing 520 to 540 g/L hydrogen cyanamide, HSC000001), which are covered in an HSNO Act. Stakeholders are reminded to submit comments before 5 pm on April 30, 2020.
