There are probably over 100,000 hazardous substances that are used in New Zealand every day. From bleach in the bathroom, petrol at the pump to snail bait on the vegie garden, you can find them everywhere.

Incorrect use of these items can lead to severe consequences, for example snail bait can be fatal to dogs. All hazardous substances must be approved under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act before they can be sold in New Zealand.

That means Trade Me sellers need to be fully aware of their responsibilities when selling these items and ensure they employ the best practices for the safe carriage of these items. In all cases, if you are sending goods through the mail, you must ensure that you comply with Land Transport Rule 45001.

There are three key areas that sellers of hazardous substances need to bear in mind before any such item is listed on Trade Me.

Proper packaging of substances

All hazardous substances must be packed adequately as per the Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Regulations 2001, as set out in this guide.

All sellers of hazardous substances on Trade Me must ensure their goods are packaged in accordance with these regulations.

Transferring the contents of a large container to several small ones may not be safe. The smaller containers must be sufficiently robust.

Correct labelling leads to safer outcomes

Labelling information on the packaging must clearly identify the hazards of substances so they can be managed appropriately. In an emergency, the label is often the first source of information accessed so it is vital that all hazardous substances sold on the site have the correct labelling. This labelling needs to be done according to the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice.

Safety data sheets

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provides information on the hazards of substances and how they should be safely used, stored, transported and eventually disposed of. This information is usually in greater detail than that supplied on the label.

A supplier of a hazardous substance must supply a SDS to the Environmental Protection Authority if requested. Trade Me expects all sellers to have a compliant SDS available on request. Members found to be selling items without the correct documentation will face having their listings removed from the site.

Decanting

Chemicals registered under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997 may not be decanted from their original packaging into new packaging and listed on the site.

The EPA has some handy contact details if you need more information:

Hazardous substances: hsinfo@epa.govt.nz
Phone (in New Zealand only) 0800 376 234
For any further advice on safety data sheets, labelling, packaging or importation of hazardous substances please contact EPA on: hscompliance@epa.govt.nz and hsinfo@worksafe.govt.nz

Image credit Creative Commons licence Jenny Lee Silver.

A guide to selling hazardous substances on Trade Me