Talk to us before submitting an application so we can help determine which application type you should use, and what fees or costs would apply.

Import or manufacture in containment

 Import or manufacture for release

*These applications may be publicly notified if it is thought there will be significant public interest in the application. They may incur additional costs associated with advertising the application in the four main newspapers and conducting a hearing (if needed). We can provide you with an estimate of these costs before processing your application.

Rapid assessment for import or manufacture

Other hazardous substance applications

Reassessment and amendments

Statutory determination and non-statutory advice

Import certificate for explosives

Import permits for asbestos-containing products

Permissions

* Some permissions have their fees waived

Talk to us before submitting an application so we can help determine which application type you should use, and what fees or costs would apply. 

New Organisms (that are not genetically modified)

Import, ferment, regenerate, or field test in containment

Release into the environment

Genetically Modified Organisms

Import into containment

Develop, regenerate, ferment and field test in containment

Release into the environment

Other GM and non-GM applications

Determine if organism is new or not

Amend or reassess an existing approval

Other release and containment approvals

Holders of delegated authority (IBSCs)

We recover all actual and reasonable costs from the applicant when we administer proposals of national significance.

This includes any costs for providing secretarial and support services to a board of inquiry, and for making recommendations to the Minister for the Environment on applications.

We also recover costs for providing advice to potential applicants prior to a proposal being lodged with us, even if it is not subsequently lodged with the us.

To find out more about our policies, and about who and what is charged, you can read our factsheet and cost recovery policy.

Cost recovery policy for proposals of national significance (pdf 350KB)

Charge-out rates for EPA staff

How much will the Nationally Significant Proposal process cost? - factsheet (pdf 255KB)

How to pay your fees and charges

Direct credit

Our bank account details are:

Email your remittance advice to finance@epa.govt.nz, stating the amount of payment, customer name, application number and application type e.g. Explosives Import Certificate.

When to pay your fee

Negotiated fees

Progress payments are required throughout the period it takes to process your application. A payment schedule is agreed at the time your fee is negotiated. We will invoice you for your initial payment. The initial payment is usually the fixed fee for the nearest comparable application type. Once we receive your initial payment we can formally receive your application.

Fixed application fees

We will invoice you once we confirm the type of application you have made, and determined how it will be processed. We cannot formally accept your application and begin processing it until payment has been received. 

If you are recognised as an approved customer, we can invoice your fee and you can pay it the following month.

Becoming an approved customer

If you consistently submit more than one application per month you can ask to be recognised as an approved customer. If accepted, you do not need to pay your fee each time you submit an application. Instead, we will invoice you on a monthly basis for all the applications you submitted in that month. You must pay the invoice by the 20th of the following month.

We will begin processing your application as soon as we receive it (provided that the application is complete and the form is signed).

To be accepted as an approved customer you must:

• have submitted more than one application per month for the last six months.
• have made all required payments at the time of submitting each application.

If you believe you are eligible for approved customer status please email us at HSapplications@epa.govt.nz. Your email should include evidence that you've submitted the required number of applications, and have made the required number of payments.

To remain an approved customer, you must:

• have submitted more than one application per month over the last six months.
• paid each invoice by the 20th of the following month.

We may remove your approved customer status if you don’t continue to meet the above criteria.

Refunding your fees

Once your application is formally received your fee will not be refunded. However, there are some circumstances where we may partially or totally refund a fee. These are:

• When an application is not formally accepted by us. If payment was made in anticipation of acceptance, the fee will be refunded.
• When the application has special features, or where the actual costs are substantially less than other applications of the same type (for example, for a publicly notified application that does not require a hearing).

All refunds will be processed after a decision is made about the application.

No refunds will be given for hazardous substance Compliance Approvals, Waivers and Licences once processing has begun.