Controls on Ammunition and Components Under the

HSNO Act

COLFO‘Cutting the Tape’ Seminar

Wellington13 October 2007Dr Peter DawsonPrincipal Scientist

Environmental Risk Management Authority New Zealand

Outline

• Overview of HSNO Act

• Classifications and Controls on Ammunition and Propellants

• Test certificates and test certifiers

• Importing explosives

• Contact details

The HSNO Act 1996

Restates and reforms the law relating to:

•Management of hazardous substances

•Decision-making on introduction of new hazardous substances (and new organisms)

Establishes the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA NZ)

HSNO Act 1996

PurposeTo protect the environment and the health & safety of people & communities by preventing or managing the adverse effects of

hazardous substances & new organisms

‘Cradle to Grave’ approach

setting controls on how substances are classified,

contained, labeled, stored, used, transported

or disposed of

Hazardous Substances + New Organisms

Legislation Replaced

• The HSNO Act repealed and replaced

– Dangerous Goods Act 1974

– Toxic Substances Act 1979

– Explosives Act 1957

– Pesticides Act 1979

– Plus amendments to other legislation

Agencies Replaced

• Toxic Substances Board - Ministry of Health

• Pesticides Board - Ministry of Agriculture• Dangerous Goods Inspectorate -

Department of Labour• Explosives Inspectorate - Department of

LabourReplaced largely by ERMA New Zealand

HSNO Act• All hazardous substances in all sectors

(except transport) regulated in NZ by– Hazardous Substances & New Organisms Act

1996– Transport regulations based on UNRTDG,

IMDG, ICAO• Law commenced 2 July 2001 for haz subs• Transitional Arrangements in place until

transfer of existing substances undertaken (finally expired July 2006)– Existing regulations under Explosives Act,

Dangerous Goods Act, Toxic Substances Act, Pesticides Act retained until substances transferred

HSNO ActHazardous Substances

(July 2001)New Organisms

(July 1998)

Previous Approvals

Existing Hazardous Substances

• Substances controlled under old legislation• Need to be transferred to the framework of the HSNO Act

= TRANSFER PROJECT

New organismsNew Hazardous

Substances

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL PROCESS

Applies now for New Organisms

Applies now for New Hazardous Substances

Explosives Pesticides

Scheduled Toxic

Substances

400600

1500

400

TRANSFER PROJECT OVERVIEW

Non - Assessed Substances (NOTS)

Assessed Substances

4900

210,000

Single Chemicals

Chemical Mixtures

Formulated/Manufactured

Products

Generic Notifications

Assessed Substances

“Small-scale use”(s33) Substances

Non-hazardous Substances

Licensed Animal Remedies

2000

Dangerous Goods

Existing substances – transfer project

• Substances transferred

– Explosives - August 2003– Dangerous Goods, Scheduled Toxic Substances - April 2004– Pesticides - July 2004– Vertebrate poisons (except 1080) - Nov 2004– Fumigants - November 2004– Storage & Disposal of Persistent Organic Pollutants – Dec 2004– Timber Preservatives, Antisapstains and Antifouling Paints – Jan

2005– 1080 - July 2005– Veterinary Medicines – July 2005– Pesticides & Veterinary Medicine Actives – June 2006 – Remainder of chemicals (around 5,000) – July 2006– Industrial/commercial/domestic products (around 100,000 by 200

Group Standards) – July 2006

Hazard Classification under HSNO

• HSNO (Minimum Degrees of Hazard) Regulations 2001

– Define regulatory thresholds for hazardous properties

• Hazardous Substances (Classification) Regulations 2001

– Classification framework based on UN GHS categories (for explosives this is same as UNRTDG categories)

• http://www.legislation.govt.nz• Covers the six GHS hazardous properties• All hazards currently classified (for the most part)

as per GHS in May 2001– revision to align with GHS 2007 underway

Physical Hazard Classifications

Property Explosiveness Flammability Capacity to oxidise

Class Class 1 Class2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5

Subclass 1.1 Mass

explosion

1.2 Projection

1.3 Fire & minor blast

1.4 No

significant hazard

1.5 Very

insensitive

1.6 Extremely insensitive

2.1.1 Gases

2.1.2 Aerosols

3.1 Liquids

3.2 Liquid

Desensitised explosive

4.1.1 Readily

combustible

4.1.2 Self

reactive

4.1.3 Desensitised

explosive

4.2 Spontaneously

combustible

4.3 Dangerous

when wet

5.1.1 Liquids /solids

5.1.2 Gases

5.2 Organic peroxide

1.1A 2.1.1A 2.1.2A 3.1A 3.2A 4.1.1A 4.1.2A 4.1.3A 4.2A 4.3A 5.1.1A 5.1.2A 5.2A

1.1B 1.2B 1.4B 2.1.1B 3.1B 3.2B 4.1.1B 4.1.2B 4.1.3B 4.2B 4.3B 5.1.1B 5.2B

1.1C 1.2C 1.3C 1.4C 3.1C 3.2C 4.1.2C 4.1.3C 4.2C 4.3C 5.1.1C 5.2C

1.1D 1.2D 1.4D 1.5D 3.1D 4.1.2D 5.2D

1.1E 1.2E 1.4E 4.1.2E 5.2E

Hazard

Classification

1.1F 1.2F 1.3F 1.4F 4.1.2F 5.2F

1.1G 1.2G 1.3G 1.4G 4.1.2G 5.2G

1.2H 1.3H

1.1J 1.2J 1.3J

1.2K 1.3K

1.1L 1.2L 1.3L

1.6N

1.4S

HSNO Regulatory “Toolbox”

Hazardous substances Threshold

Classification• Explosive • Flammable• Oxidising• Corrosive• Toxic • Ecotoxic

Required information (Haz. Subst.)

Property performance requirements Lifecycle performance requirements

Small scale exempt Laboratories

Enforcement officer, test certifier competencies

Fireworks for public sale

HSNO Act & Regulations

Explosive

Flammable

Oxidising

Toxic incl bio corrosives

Ecotoxic

Disposal

Identification

Packaging

Emergency preparedness

Tracking

Competency

Compressed gas containers

Bulk containers (fixed and moveable)

Regulations• Minimum Degrees of Hazard Regulations 2001• Classification Regulations 2001• Class 1 to 5 Controls Regulations 2001• Class 6, 8 & 9 Controls Regulations 2001• Packaging Regulations 2001• Identification Regulations 2001• Emergency Management Regulations 2001• Disposal Regulations 2001• Tracking Regulations 2001• Personnel Qualifications Regulations 2001• Fireworks, Safety Ammunition & Other

Explosives Transfer Regulations 2003

Classification of Ammunition and Components

• Fireworks, Safety Ammunition & Other Explosives Transfer Regulations 2003– Schedule 2 Safety Ammunition

• Safety ammunition – classification 1.4S UN0012(centre or rimfire primer, calibre up to 19.1mm, incl all shotgun)

• Blank ammunition – classification 1.4S UN0014• Primers, cap type – classification 1.4S UN0044• Cartridge cases (empty) with primer – classification

1.4S UN0055

Classification of Ammunition and Components

• Fireworks, Safety Ammunition & Other Explosives Transfer Regulations 2003– Schedule 3 Other Explosives

• Black powder – classification 1.1D UN0027• Smokeless powder (single base) – classification 1.3C

(1.1C in quantities > 500 kg) UN0161/160• Smokeless powder (double base) – classification 1.3C

(1.1C in quantities > 500 kg) UN0161/160• Smokeless powder (triple base) – classification 1.3C

(1.1C in quantities > 500 kg) UN0161/160• Propellants, solid – classification 1.3C UN0499

(eg. Hodgdon Pyrodex)

Explosive Property Controls[Classes 1 to 5 Controls]

• Avoid likelihood of unintended initiation/ ignition• Limit the level of adverse effects in the event of

intended or unintended initiation/ignition

• Objectives achieved by controls on– Containers for securing explosives – Management of locations and operations– Intended detonation– Transfer and transportation of explosives– Test Certificates for locations and personnel (approved

handlers)

Explosive Property Controls[Classes 1 to 5 Controls]

• Approved handlers– Safety ammunition, blank ammunition, primers, pre-primed

empty cartridges are Exempt (in all quantities)– Propellant powders, incl gunpowder

• Required, before the point of sale to the public, for 50 kg and over

• Required, after the point of sale to the public, for 15 kg and over• Powders may be ‘handled’ by a person who is not an approved

handler if an approved handler:– is present at the location– has provided guidance– is available to provide assistance…at all times…whilst the

substance is being handled

Explosive Property Controls[Classes 1 to 5 Controls]

• Storage– Containers for securing explosives

• Ammunition and primers only required to be secured• Propellant powders (incl gunpowder)

– 15kg and under, when not for sale – ‘lock & key’ only, provided that container is located separate from any dwelling

– Over 15kg, when not for sale – ‘magazine’ (regs 23 - 25 – test certificates required) – eg. converted freight container (AS2187.1)

– When held for sale, 50kg and under – ‘readily moveable container (portable magazine) (regs 23 - 25 – test certificate required) AS2187.1

– When held for sale, over 50kg – ‘magazine’ (regs 23 - 25 – test certificates required) – eg. converted freight container (AS2187.1)

Explosive Property Controls[Classes 1 to 5 Controls]

• Storage• Similar provisions applied under the previous Explosives

Act– Up to 15kg of gunpowder or any nitro compound, ‘adapted

and intended exclusively for use in cartridges for small arms’, could be stored for private use only and not for sale

– Had to be stored ‘in a building at a safe distance from a dwelling house, and, when not in use, had to be kept securely locked and ‘the explosive secure from danger of accident by fire or explosion’.

– Other than above, a licence to store explosives was required

Explosive Property Controls[Classes 1 to 5 Controls]

• Management of Locations– Hazardous substance location

• Propellant powders – 15kg and over• Safety ammunition, pre-primed cartridges and primers – 10,000kg

(gross weight) and over• Notification to enforcement officer of establishment• Ensure approved handler available• Storage meets prescribed requirements• Controls to reduce likelihood of unintended initiation in place (eg

controls on heat and fire ignition sources)• Test certified

– Not required for safety ammunition, primed cartridges, primers– Propellant powders – over 100kg– Gunpowder – over 50kg

• Establishment of controlled zone

Tracking Regulations

• Location and movement recorded at each stage of lifecycle (eg.sales and use)

• May only transfer if:– To an Approved Handler– To an certified location (for storage)

• Tracking is not required for:– safety ammunition, pre-primed cartridges and

primers– propellant powders, < 15kg, beyond the point

of sale to the public

Import Certificates

• Import certificate required for each shipment – issued by ERMA NZ to allow Customs clearance

– Quantity– Port of entry– Place of storage– Date of arrival

• Certifies that explosive has an approval under HSNO Act

• Not required for safety ammunition, pre-primed cartridges and primers

EnforcementOfficers

SelfResponsibility

Approved Codes of Practice

TestCertification

Controls

HSNO Act

MethodologyRegulations

Test Certifiers

IndustryStandards

& Guidelines

The Compliance System

Voluntary Mandatory

Implementation of controls

• Via adoption of Codes of Practice• Codes will detail acceptable means of

meeting performance requirements• ERMA can issue, amend, approve and

revoke Codes of Practice• Codes can be existing documents,

such as standards, other COPs (OSH), industry codes

Test certificates and test certifiers

• Test certificates for certain facilities (magazines, locations) and competent handlers

• Test certificates must be obtained from an approved Test Certifier

• ERMA maintains a register of approved Test Certifiers

• Approval relates to specific test certification functions

Test Certifiers Who are they?

• See ERMA New Zealand websitewww.ermanz.govt.nz/search/tc.html

• Contact ERMA New Zealand• David Querido

Email: david.querido@ermanz.govt.nzTel: 04 918 4838

Importing Explosives

www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/compliance/explosives/import.html

HSNO Import Certificate• www.ermanz.govt.nz/resources/publicati

ons/word/import-certif.doc• Complete details• Send to ERMA New Zealand

(fee: $100 + GST)• ERMA New Zealand certifies that explosives are

approved• Contact: Sarah Gauden-Ing• Ph: 04 9184 854• explosives@ermanz.govt.nz

Not sure if explosive approved?

• Hazardous Substance (Fireworks, Safety Ammunition, and other Explosive Transfer) Regulations 2003 (www.legislation.govt.nz)

• Status of Substance request to ERMA• www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/applications/status-of-s

ubstance.html• Form: HS6A • Fee: $100 + GST• sos@ermanz.govt.nz

New Explosive• Application for approval from ERMA New

Zealand– Full approval– Rapid assessment

• www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/applications/index.html

• Propellants and ammunition and components have been approved generically so unlikely new approvals would be necessary

How to contact us

explosives@ermanz.govt.nz

Tel: 0800 376234

www.ermanz.govt.nz