HSNO changes welcomed

Media Release
Wednesday, November 12th 2003

HSNO changes welcomed

Changes in the Hazardous Substance and New Organism (HSNO) Transitional Arrangement Amendment Bill are a welcome sign Government has listened to business concerns about the HSNO Act, says the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

"Without the changes, many ordinary products would be forced from the New Zealand market due to special packaging, labelling and handling requirements that would otherwise be imposed by the HSNO law's default controls", said Mr Garth Wyllie Executive Officer of EMA.

"The costs of compliance with the controls are so great that only limited lines of some products would remain in the market. Consumers would soon find the wide choice currently available to them in such as cosmetics and household products would become severely restricted.

"The changes introduced in the Bill allow the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to vary the controls and apply those that are appropriate to very low risk substances.

"EMA and other business organisations have lobbied government for common sense to prevail in addressing the costs of HSNO.

"But this change is just the first needed," Mr Wyliie said. "Further proposals due shortly from the Ministry for Environment will also be vital for making HSNO workable and more in line with international best practice.

"It is possible to have good environmental controls applied in a common sense commercial manner while taking advantage of work done elsewhere in the world to ensure the best outcomes for New Zealand, business and the consumer."

ENDS

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