On June 18, 2020, the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced that it identifies 18 hazardous substances which have met the criteria for reassessment. For the complete list, see the application overview [1] on the EPA website.
Based on the information it has identified or collected, the EPA deems it necessary to adjust the hazard classification of 18 substances, which include pesticides, fumigants, veterinary medicines and cosmetics.
The EPA uses tea tree oil, which is among the hazardous substances identified for reassessment, to illustrate what changes this may entail. The changes to its hazard classification may involve the addition of an inhalation warning. This will benefit manufacturers which handle the substance in large quantities, while having little impact on consumers who usually use only a little tea tree oil at a time.
It should be noted that, under this circumstance, the reassessment application would be for a modified reassessment, which can only change part of an existing approval and cannot revoke an existing approval or ban a substance.
