16 March 2015
Importers, laboratories and other workplaces holding 1080 are being advised by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on how to comply with the extra controls introduced by the Government last week.
Tighter controls on the high purity forms of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) have been introduced in response to the criminal threat to use 1080 to contaminate infant and other formula. The new controls apply to all workplaces and all laboratories, including those operating under the Hazardous Substances Exempt Laboratories Regulations.
After 10 April 2015 it will be unlawful for any laboratory or place of work to hold 1080 without having notified the EPA (for current stocks), or having requested an import certificate (for each new import of 1080). This information will enable the EPA to better track the importation, distribution and use of high purity 1080, and to ensure it is always securely contained.
The extra requirements are:
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All laboratories and places of work holding 1080 as at 12 March 2015 are required to notify the EPA of the quantity held and the supplier of the 1080. This notification must be made by 10 April 2015.
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Any new imports of 1080 must be notified to the EPA and an import certificate must be obtained and provided to the New Zealand Customs Service before the imported 1080 can be uplifted. This requirement is effective immediately.
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All laboratories and places of work holding stocks of 1080 at any time in a calendar year, must provide an annual report to the EPA by 31 March of the following year. The annual report for the 2015 calendar year must be provided by 31 March 2016 and must cover the period from 12 March to 31 December 2015. Users of 1080 are urged to review their tracking and recording procedures now to ensure that you are able to meet the annual reporting requirements.
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Additional storage requirements apply to laboratories operating under the Exempt Laboratories regulations – the laboratory manager must ensure that any 1080 held in the laboratory must be securely locked up when not in use. This requirement already applies to laboratories and other places of work operating under the HSNO Act and Regulations.
The EPA has published forms and information on its website for helping importers, laboratories and other workplaces to comply with the new requirements.
