Exempt substances and laboratories
Some hazardous substances and laboratories are exempt or excluded from the Hazardous Substance and New Organisms (HSNO) Act.
Exempt hazardous substances
Food
Ready-to-eat food is exempt but food additives require approval.
How FSANZ ensures the safety of food additives - Food Standards Australia and New Zealand website
Infectious substances
UN class 6 infectious substances are not regulated.
Manufactured articles
A substance is considered a manufactured article or a hazardous substance depending on its:
- properties, such as physical form
- use
- intrinsic hazardous properties.
Manufactured articles are excluded from being hazardous substances under the HSNO Act.
Manufactured articles information sheet (PDF, 66KB)
Manufactured articles with explosive properties
If a manufactured article has explosive properties it will require approval. This means that explosive substances incorporated into detonators, flares or fireworks are considered hazardous substances for the purposes of the Act.
Manufactured articles containing insecticides
We have specific guidance for products containing insecticides or insect repellents which need approval:
Products containing insecticides or insect repellents
Medicine intended for people
MedSafe regulates medicine intended for people. However, the ingredients used to manufacture medicine require an approval under the Act.
Find out more on the Medsafe website
Non-hazardous substances
If a substance does not meet any of the hazard classifications, then it is not regulated under the Act. But, mixtures that contain a hazardous substance and a non-hazardous substance may be classed as hazardous.
Radioactive material
Substances that are radioactive (UN class 7) are not covered by the Act unless they are also flammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidising, toxic or ecotoxic.
find out more about the Radiation Safety Act 2016 – NZ Legislation website
Exempt laboratories
Hazardous substances used on a small scale for research and development, or teaching, are exempt from the HSNO Act.
Commercial laboratories that sell hazardous substances cannot operate as exempt laboratories.
WorkSafe has information about:
- what type of laboratory can operate as an exempt laboratory
- how to become an exempt laboratory
- operating as an exempt laboratory on the WorkSafe website.