EPA notices for hazardous substances
EPA notices contain many of the rules you must follow to safely manage hazardous substances.
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EPA notices contain many of the rules you must follow to safely manage hazardous substances.
If you are using a hazardous substance in a workplace, consult with WorkSafe New Zealand to ensure you are also meeting its requirements.
The latest versions of the EPA notices and some guidance is listed below. Many of these notices are consolidated versions that incorporate amendments made in April 2021 to apply the new GHS 7-based classification system.
Several EPA notices have been amended or revoked since they were first issued.
This Notice sets out the classification system for hazardous substances in New Zealand. The classification system is based on GHS 7 but also includes a framework for terrestrial ecotoxicity hazards.
This notice replaces the Hazardous Substances (Classification) Notice 2017 and the Hazardous Substances (Minimum Degrees of Hazard) Notice 2017.
Hazardous Substances (Hazard Classification) Notice 2020 (PDF, 472KB)
This notice incorporates GHS 7 by reference to the GHS Book which is published by the United Nations. Where the GHS 7 gives options, the Hazard Classification Notice specifies which options we have adopted, and also lists the GHS 7 classifications we have not adopted.
The GHS does not cover terrestrial ecotoxicity hazards. We have therefore introduced a separate framework to manage these hazards that is based on the current hazard classifications for terrestrial ecotoxicity.
The new hazard class “hazardous to the terrestrial environment” is applied only to agrichemicals and active ingredients used in the manufacture of some agrichemicals. It comprises the following four hazard classifications:
More information about New Zealand's hazard classification system
This notice sets out the rules for information that must be included on the labels of hazardous substances. It is based on GHS 7 so requires GHS label elements such as:
The notice also allows compliant labels from Australia, EU, Canada, and USA to be used, as long as certain New Zealand specific information is also included.
This consolidated version of the Hazardous Substances (Labelling) Notice 2017 incorporates all the changes made to the notice since it was first issued in 2017.
More information about labelling requirements and safety data sheets
The EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice 2020 made the following changes to the Hazardous Substances (Labelling) Notice 2017:
This notice sets the rules for the format, content and supply of safety data sheets (SDS). It is based on the GHS requirements, such as an SDS must be in the 16-header format, with specific information provided under each heading.
This notice also allows compliant SDS from Australia, EU, Canada, and USA to be used, as long as certain New Zealand specific information is also included.
This consolidated version of the Hazardous Substances (Safety Data Sheets) Notice 2017 incorporates all the changes made to this notice since it was first issued in 2017.
More information on labelling and safety data sheets
The EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice 2020 made the following changes to the Hazardous Substances (Safety Data Sheets) Notice 2017:
This notice was amended in June 2021 to fix a cross-reference error in the original 2017 notice:
Hazardous Substances Safety Data Sheets Notice 2017 - Amendment 2021 (PDF, 630KB)
This notice sets the rules for the packaging of hazardous substances, including the rules for child-resistant packaging.
This consolidated version of the Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Notice 2017 incorporates all the changes made to this notice since it was first issued in 2017.
The EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice 2020 made the following changes to the Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Notice 2017:
This notice sets the national minimum standard for the disposal of hazardous substances.
This consolidated version of the Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Notice 2017 incorporates all the changes made to the notice since it was first issued in 2017.
The EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice 2020 made the following changes to the Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Notice 2017:
This notice includes rules to:
This consolidated version of the Hazardous Substances (Hazardous Property Controls) Notice 2017 incorporates all the changes made to this notice since it was first issued in 2017.
Protecting the environment when using agrichemicals
Storing or using substances with ecotoxic properties
Selling or supplying hazardous chemicals to workplaces only
The EPA Notices (Amendment and Revocations) Notice 2020 made the following changes to the Hazardous Substances (Hazardous Property Controls) Notice 2017:
This notice requires most people or businesses that manufacture or import hazardous substances to provide us with some basic contact information.
Your details must be provided to us within 30 days of the first time you import or manufacture a hazardous substance. You will only need to do this once, although you will need to keep us updated if your details change.
This notice also requires importers of certain explosives to provide certain information to the EPA, WorkSafe New Zealand, and the New Zealand Customs Service.
The consolidated version of the Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice 2017 incorporates all the changes made to the notice since it was first issued in 2017.
The EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice 2020 made the following changes to the Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice 2017.
This notice has been amended several times.
Previous amendments to the Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice 2017 Notice
Anyone who has been importing or manufacturing a hazardous substance for commercial use since 19 November 2015 must provide their contact details to the EPA.
Commercial use can mean for sale or trade, but it also applies if you are importing or manufacturing a hazardous substance to use in a business setting – for example, a beautician might import a product to use on clients in their salon.
The only case where you would not be required to give us your contact details is if you are importing or manufacturing a product that you will keep for your personal use, and no other purpose.
This notice also requires importers of certain explosives to obtain an import certificate before importing the substance.
More information about applying for a certificate to import explosives
We use your information to communicate with you to make sure you are aware of changes to the regime around managing the risks of hazardous substances. It will also help us better understand hazardous substance industries and better manage hazardous substances in New Zealand.
As soon as your details change, you should email us to ask us to update your details. We will need to know your name, address and phone and email contact.
People who export hazardous substances to New Zealand do not need to provide their contact details. The Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers ) Notice 2015 applies to the New Zealand entity that is importing or manufacturing the hazardous substances.
Laboratories operating under the Code of Practice for Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) and University Exempt Laboratories that manufacture hazardous substances in the lab do not need to supply their contact information. This notice does not apply to the small-scale research on hazardous substances under section 33 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.
More information under Section 33 of the HSNO Act
Even if you've supplied us with your contact details before for another reason, if you're now importing or manufacturing a hazardous substance, we need to hear from you.
Contact information we already hold doesn't show us whether an organisation or person is an importer, manufacturer or have some other interest in our work. Collecting contact details of importers and manufacturers helps us to ensure you are kept up-to-date about any new rules or changes you should be aware of.
Any New Zealand-based organisation that imports and/or manufactures hazardous substances need to provide the information.
Manufacturers and importers of hazardous substances that are assigned to group standards must keep a record of assignment. The record needs to contain the information used to assign the substance to the group standard.
This notice sets out all the information you need to provide to the EPA if you are applying for an approval for a hazardous substance under the HSNO Act. It also includes a form for issuing compliance orders. It is essentially a copy of the Hazardous Substances (Forms and Information) Regulations 2001.
Hazardous Substances (Forms and Information) Notice 2017 (PDF, 500 KB)
This notice sets out the qualification requirements for hazardous substances enforcement officers. These qualifications ensure warranted officers are competent to carry out the responsibilities, functions and duties for this role. Competency under the notice is made up of both knowledge and experience requirements.
Hazardous Substances (Enforcement Officer Qualifications) Notice 2015 (PDF, 537KB)
This notice revokes the Hazardous Substances (Minimum Degrees of Hazard) Notice 2017 and the Hazardous Substances (Classification) Notice 2017.
It also makes changes to several notices to apply the new classification system that came into force on 30 April 2021. These changes have been incorporated into the consolidated versions of the notices listed on this page.
EPA Notices (Amendments and Revocations) Notice 2020 (PDF, 1.1MB)
Learn how to use hazardous substances safely in the workplace here
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