Following the election of a new government back in October 2023, there have recently been several regulatory updates within the country. This includes the establishment of a new ministry, namely the Ministry of Regulation. The country has also had a reorganization of their Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Following this, the EPA has announced that it is implementing significant legislative changes to align with global best practices. The key changes include a new requirement for manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals to report the tonnage of substances entering New Zealand.
Companies will be required to submit annual reports on the total tonnage of hazardous chemicals, this is required if the substance is imported under individual approvals or if the substance falls under specific classes, such as explosives. This requirement does not apply to substances imported under group standards. The amendment will become effective in 2026, at which point companies must comply with these updates.
While this will increase the regulatory burden on companies, the goal is to enhance the EPA’s understanding of hazardous chemicals in New Zealand, which currently lacks comprehensive data.
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Published December 5, 2024
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