Smith Lockwood: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Stockholm Convention) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Smith Lockwood: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Stockholm Convention) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:609;Page:6936] 
Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (NZ National—Rodney) 
: I am pleased to speak in the second reading debate on this bill. It is interesting legislation because it provides for an absolute prohibition on the manufacture import or use of persistent organic pollutants. It is obviously a very strong measure and therefore one does need to be absolutely satisfied that it is necessary. 
It is interesting to look at schedule 2A which identifies the 10 currently listed persistent organic pollutants. I have to say that they are not nice things and I think most people would have to agree with that in respect of some of these substances like Dieldrin and Aldrin. In my earlier life I had a fair bit to do with those chemicals because of course sheep dips used to contain them. Those of us involved in the agricultural industry will know what those substances can do to the ground. They turn it into a bare patch pretty quickly. Although some people might be concerned at legislation that is as draconian as this—it absolutely bans the importation use and manufacture of certain substances—I think we all have to accept that the process that is gone through for substances to be added to the Stockholm convention is a powerful and robust process. I think that any concerns people have can be eased in that regard. 
The legislation mentions one group of chemicals in particular and that is the polychlorinated biphenyls which I mentioned a moment ago in relation to the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Amendment Bill. They are in fact produced here in New Zealand. The select committee had a look at this issue in some detail because whether or not we like it polychlorinated biphenyls are currently widely used in the electricity industry inside such things as transformers and light fittings. Although I think everyone including the electricity industry itself is in agreement that over time polychlorinated biphenyls should be removed from electrical equipment it is obviously going to take time to do that. 
The bill as introduced included in schedule 2A a requirement that the extension of the expiry of the exemption being given to polychlorinated biphenyls be 2014. The select committee looked at that in some detail and came to the conclusion after listening to evidence from Transpower New Zealand Ltd in particular that 2014 was too short a time to impose on the electricity industry to get rid of polychlorinated biphenyls from its products. So the select committee has recommended in schedule 2A that the date be extended to 2016. We consider that to be a sensible amendment because it does enable a sensible time frame for the replacement plan that Transpower New Zealand Ltd has in place to complete the replacement of polychlorinated biphenyls in those electrical products. The way the bill is now those 10 substances that form schedule 2A will be banned from use storage or manufacture in New Zealand. One substance the polychlorinated biphenyls has an exemption to continue to be able to be used in New Zealand and the expiry of that exemption has been extended out to 2016. 
There are of course some other small exemptions in the legislation. I think it is important that people understand that some substances are used in research and there is the need for their use in research to continue. The legislation does not ignore that. In fact clause 8 appropriately covers this issue. Clause 8 provides that as long as small-scale research on hazardous substances does not create or involve a persistent organic pollutant there is the possibility of an exemption from the Act. 
Most issues that were of concern to those who appeared before the select committee have been covered. I think that the bill in its final form as it comes back to this Parliament is satisfactory. The final thing I would say is that when further substances are added to the Stockholm convention we will be able with the way the provisions in this bill are drafted to include those substances without any further amendment to this legislation. The National Opposition is totally supportive of this bill. The fact that it is moving through the House in conjunction with the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Amendment Bill is sensible. We will be supporting this bill as it progresses through the House today.