If you are importing or manufacturing a hazardous substance in containment in New Zealand, you need a containment approval under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act.
Containment approvals cover:
- manufacture or importation of small amounts of a hazardous substance for use as an analytical standard where:
- approval to import or manufacture the substance has been declined; or
- the substance is a persistent organic pollutant (POP);
- research and development of a hazardous substance;
- formulating, relabelling, repackaging or storing a hazardous substance for export to a destination outside New Zealand.
A containment approval can be for a specific purpose such as the use of a chemical as a test standard or a field trial of a pesticide. The key criterion is that the substance will be adequately contained.
Generic containment approvals may also be sought, covering different substances under a single approval. Under a generic approval, controls must be applicable to all the substances and the approval holder must advise us of any substances that are being imported or manufactured.
Do you intend to use or commercially release the substance?
If you intend to use or release a hazardous substance outside of containment, you need to make a different application.
How do you apply for a containment approval?
To apply for a containment approval, send us the completed application form.
Download Application Form
(word, 240 kb)
(pdf, 375 kb)
What is the process?
Containment applications are processed via the non-notified application pathway. The statutory timeframe for processing a containment application is 60 working days.