EPA simplifies novelty fireworks process

Novelty fireworks like Christmas crackers and party poppers will no longer need explosives import certificates from 1 October 2018, says the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

EPA’s General Manager of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Group Dr Fiona Thomson-Carter says the changes are part of a review of the EPA’s hazardous substances services which went through a public consultation earlier this year.

“Christmas crackers and party poppers are relatively low risk, so it didn’t make sense that they have been treated in the same way as commercial explosives. This was confirmed by the feedback from the public consultation.

“The EPA is always looking for ways to improve our processes, so we need to ensure we are investing our resources in priority areas to prevent harm to New Zealanders from hazardous substances,” says Dr Thomson-Carter.

“Every hour of staff time saved helps us focus on higher priority areas and we can invest the staff time used to manually process the import certificates, to focus on more important work which is good for the EPA, the public and the taxpayer,” says Dr Thomson-Carter.

Explosives import certificates are still required for all hazardous substances which require a controlled substances licence, like demolition explosives or commercial fireworks.

Read more information about the public consultation.

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