User Guide to Thresholds and Classification - Environmental ...

435User Guide for Thresholds and Classifications23. Biocidal Classification23.1. IntroductionThe biocidal threshold is intended to ensure that biocidal substances with a highly specific mode of action ona particular class of organism are assessed for possible environmental impacts prior to importation into, ormanufacture in, New Zealand. This specificity means that when the substance is tested for any of thespecific ecotoxicity thresholds using the species identified in the acceptable test methodologies, it may nottrigger any of the thresholds for aquatic, soil, terrestrial vertebrate and terrestrial invertebrate ecotoxicity.However, there is still potential for these substances to pose a risk to organisms in the environment.23.2. ThresholdSchedule 6 to the Hazardous Substances (Minimum Degrees of Hazard) Regulations 2001 states:2 Minimum degrees of hazard(1) A substance with ecotoxic properties is not hazardous for the purposes of the Act unless—…(e) the substance is designed for biocidal action.(2) A substance referred to in subclause (1)(e) is not hazardous for the purposes of this schedule if—(a) the substance is designed for biocidal action against a virus, protozoan, bacterium, or an internalorganism in humans or in other vertebrates; and(b) the substance does not meet any of the minimum degrees of hazard specified in subclause (1)(a)to (d).Note that subclause (1)(a) to (d) contains the threshold requirements for effects on aquatic, soil, terrestrialvertebrate, and terrestrial invertebrate species.23.3. ClassificationSchedule 6 to the Hazardous Substances (Classification) Regulations 2001 classifies biocides undersubclass 9.1 as 9.1D (substances that are slightly ecotoxic to the aquatic environment).A 9.1D biocidal classification applies to any substance meets the following criteria.Subclass 9.1D – substances that are slightly harmful in the aquatic environment or are otherwisedesigned for biocidal actionA substance that is designed for biocidal action, other than a substance that is designed for biocidalaction against a virus, a protozoan, a bacterium, or an internal organism in humans or in othervertebrates, but that does not meet the criteria for any hazard classification in class 9 other than 9.1D.A substance is not assigned a 9.1D biocide classification if the substance is designed for biocidal actionagainst:January 2012 EPA0109