Purpose of the HSNO Act
"To protect the environment and the health and safety of people and communities by preventing or managing the adverse effects of hazardous substances and new organisms."
Mission
The overall mission of the Authority of ERMA New Zealand is to:
"Achieve effective prevention or management of risks to the environment, public health and safety associated with importing or manufacturing hazardous substances and introducing new organisms, and their use."
This mission will be achieved principally through actions by the Authority and the Agency of ERMA New Zealand to:
- achieve cost-efficient and effective decisions on applications under the HSNO Act which take appropriate account of benefits and costs as well as risks, to New Zealand;
- promote compliance with the Act and with the Authority's decisions;
- promote public understanding and knowledge of risks associated with new organisms and hazardous substances and how to prevent or manage them, and
- enhance the HSNO Act as an effective legislative framework for the prevention or management of HSNO risks.
While the purpose of the HSNO Act is to protect human and community health and safety and the environment, the intention of the Authority is to pursue that purpose in a way that recognises that there are benefits as well as risks associated with new organisms and hazardous substances.
Functions
These functions below are statutory functions set out in the HSNO Act that apply to the Authority:
- Making decisions on applications under Part V of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, by evaluating risks, costs and benefits and placing conditions on approvals; and making decisions on transitional licences and other approvals;
- Transferring existing approvals to the HSNO Act;
- Monitoring and coordinating compliance with the Act and Authority decisions;
- Promoting public awareness of the risks of hazardous substances and new organisms;
- Advising the Minister for the Environment on the effectiveness of the Act and other matters;
- International relations;
- Inquiring into accidents or emergencies.
The Authority's main role is to make decisions on applications to import, develop, or field test new organisms; or to import or manufacture hazardous substances. These applications are made under Part V of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.
ERMA New Zealand's main aim is to support the Authority in its decision making role to meet the purpose of the HSNO Act in a way which allows New Zealanders' to benefit from the use of New Organisms and Hazardous Substances.