Modern chemical management system key to environment

Modern chemical management system key to New Zealand’s environment

The Environmental Protection Authority is pressing ahead with its extensive programme of work to create a modern chemical management system for New Zealand.
The approach features strongly in its latest Annual Report alongside key activities that span consumer safety around hazardous substances, the EPA’s risk assessment approach, an extensive chemical reassessments programme and a prototype chemical atlas to map New Zealand’s chemical loading by geographic region.

Chief Executive of the EPA, Dr Allan Freeth says: “It’s been another significant year of work which, at its heart, is about keeping New Zealand and New Zealanders safe.”

“Protecting our environment, our way of life and the economy drives our efforts and our decision-making, and everyone has an opinion on that.

“As we progress our programme of important initiatives we’ll be looking for opportunities to build engagement with public, iwi and interest groups such as NGOs.

"We know the future of our work will be strengthened with input from them on issues that touch the lives of all New Zealanders," says Dr Freeth.

The EPA’s 2017/18 Annual Report covers a wide range of activities including: The introduction and issuing of Caution Notices that signal to New Zealanders when extra vigilance is needed around the use of certain common chemicals.

The EPA’s Safer Homes Programme which aims to help Kiwi families stay safe around household chemical products.

Workshops for importers, suppliers and operators of low-cost stores to promote a better understanding of their obligations under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act.

The public release of the decision to grant, subject to conditions, marine consents and marine discharge consents to Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd. This set a record of 13,733 submissions.

Two Boards of Inquiry for the East West Link and Northern Corridor Proposals of National Significance, both in Auckland.

Our investigation into fire-fighting foams manufactured using PFOS or PFOA.

The approval of a genetically-modified virus Telomelysin, as part of a clinical trial for patients with advanced and inoperable melanoma.

View the Annual Report

ends

© Scoop Media