This guide is part of a series of technical guides produced by ERMA New Zealand to help people involved with the HSNO Act. It will be particularly helpful for those people who are reviewing applications (and that is the way it has been written), but it may also be useful for applicants and those people interested in HSNO related risks more generally. People with a less technical interest in HSNO are advised to start with the other series of documents we publish, especially:

·  the quick guides (aimed at a very general audience or for those making a first acquaintance with HSNO);
·  the user guides (aimed at those directly involved with HSNO but not a great degree of technical detail).

Publications in this technical series are not formally endorsed by ERMA New Zealand. They are intended to provide a technical point of reference. Most of the documents will be authored by a member of staff, but in other cases, there may be an external author.

This guide will be updated from time to time and is relevant for applications to:
·  import or manufacture a hazardous substance
·  import or manufacture a hazardous substance in containment
·  import, field test in containment, or release from containment a new organism (including genetically modified organisms) (GMOs)
·  import or develop a new organism (including GMOs) in containment
·  reassess an approved hazardous substance