For all technical queries about hazardous substance applications and compliance:

Contact us

Enforcement of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act

You can contact us and raise a concern about enforcement of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. We are responsible for ensuring certain provisions of the Act are enforced, such as the requirement for a hazardous substance to have an approval before being imported or manufactured and other requirements imposed by an EPA notice such as labelling, safety data sheets and packaging.

Enforcement relating to hazardous substances and new organisms is also assigned to a range of other enforcement agencies, who have responsibility for specific areas. Enforcement agencies may work together, or transfer functions to other enforcement agencies.

Below you can see which enforcement agencies are responsible for which areas.

New organisms enforcement

You can contact the Ministry for Primary Industries about new organisms enforcement

Ministry for Primary Industries

Hazardous substances in places of work

WorkSafe New Zealand

Hazardous substances in relation to travel and transport

In (or on) any motor or rail vehicle; on any road or railway line:

New Zealand Transport Agency, or

NZ Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team

In (or on) any aircraft:

Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand

In (or on) any ship:

Maritime New Zealand

Hazardous substances at the border

New Zealand Customs Service

Hazardous substances in relation to public health

Where it is necessary to protect public health:

Ministry of Health

Hazardous substances in relation to distribution systems, gas installations and gas appliances

In, on, at, or around any distribution system, gas installation or gas appliance:

WorkSafe New Zealand

Hazardous substances at all other premises, including any premises where the RMA is being enforced

Territorial authorities

Territorial authorities (city or district councils) are responsible for enforcement in (or on) any premises situated within their district, other than those mentioned above.
A territorial authority may enforce the HSNO Act if they are on the premises for the purpose of enforcing the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Regional councils

Regional councils may enforce the HSNO Act if they are on the premises for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the RMA.

Regional councils are responsible for enforcement in (or on) premises specified above, where the function has been transferred to them by another enforcement agency.

Ozone Layer Protection Act

You can contact us and raise a concern about breaches of the Ozone Layer Protection Act.

Exclusive Economic Zone

The EPA is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the EEZ Act, and also the regulations made and marine consents granted under it.

Raise a concern about an EEZ activity