Group standards NZ

A new group standard was introduced in New Zealand on 1 July.

A group standard is an approval mechanism under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 which sets conditions around managing risks associated with the manufacture, importation, use and disposal of hazardous substances.

Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) New Zealand chief executive, Rob Forlong said the release of group standards enabled the regulation of over 100,000 chemicals and products, from substances used around the home, such as detergents and drain cleaners, to highly specialised industrial chemicals.

"Some new safety requirements introduced through group standards will begin coming into effect on 1 January 2007 and others will become fully operational over the next few years," he said.

Staged implementation allowed New Zealand to ensure the country was not out of step with international hazardous substances regulation.

"Given the small size of our markets and reliance on imported products, it is important New Zealand follows best international practice to avoid imposing unnecessary compliance costs on industry and end users," he said.

More information on group standards, staged implementation and general hazardous substances compliance is available by calling ERMA, New Zealand's free phone compliance line on 0800 376 234 (within NZ), or by emailing hsinfo@ermanz.govt.nz