HSNO Amendment Bill No. 2
The Local Government and Environment Select Committee is calling for submissions on the Bill.The Bill amends the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 to reflect existing Government policy in respect to hazardous substances and to streamline and reduce the costs of procedures required under the Act. It does not fundamentally change the purpose and principles of the Act. The responsibilities of the Environmental Risk Management Authority are extended, in particular the rapid assessment of new substances. The definition of 'premises' is to include a dwelling. The exemptions in the Act covering small scale use of hazardous substances in research, development or teaching are refined to cover the importation, storage and transportation of hazardous substances. Because some regulations are not yet finalised, the date on which the transitional provisions expire is extended. A new section provides that any approval given under the Act in relation to a hazardous substance that is the subject of an innovative agricultural compound application or an innovative medicine application, applies only to the person who made the application for approval rather than to the substance itself. The new section ceases to apply to a hazardous substance when the information relating to the substance ceases to be protected under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997 or the Medicines Act 1981, as the case may be. Making a submission:If you or your organisation wish to make a submission on the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill (No. 2), you should forward 20 copies to the address below by 8 May 2000. If a personal appearance before the select committee is desired, a request to that effect must accompany the submission together with a contact name, address and telephone number. The address for submissions is:Malcolm McNamara For further information, ring (04) 471 9560 Submissions will eventually become publicA submission received by a select committee generally becomes public when it is released by the committee, or when it is presented orally before the committee, or when the committee makes its report to the House. You may apply for any o
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