ERMA New Zealand's Authority uses risk management principles contained in the Methodology to guide its work.
Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996, the Authority is required to consider and weigh up the adverse and beneficial effects of a new organism or substance. The detailed decisions of the Authority also give an insight into how it has dealt with different aspects of risks, costs and benefits.
To mitigate any risks they apply controls (where relevant and possible) to the application, just as in everyday life we wear seatbelts to reduce the risks associated with driving. The controls might include housing the organism or substance in a specially designed laboratory or they may be to wear protective equipment when handling a certain hazardous chemical.
The Authority's role is to manage risks to the environment and to public health, and they do this through their decision-making processes on applications. When they receive an application they weigh up the adverse and beneficial effects on society, the environment, public health etc.
To find out more information see the following publications from the resources section of our website:
- Annotated Methodology (policy) [pdf - 351 kb]
- Approach to Risk (reports) [pdf - 142 kb]
- Assessment of Effects of HS & NOs on human health (technical guide) [pdf - 361 kb]
Papers presented to the June 2000 conference:
For more information on risk and risk management see: