July 2018, Ngaire Phillips re-appointed to the HSNO Committee

Streamlined Environmental’s Ecology and Ecotoxicology Specialist Dr Ngaire Phillips has been re-appointed to the EPA’s HSNO Committee for a further 3 years. The HSNO Committee considers applications for hazardous substances, and for new organisms into New Zealand, under the HSNO (Hazardous Substances and New Organisms) Act. Decision Making Committees (DMC) are formed from a pool of 8 decision makers. Their job is to consider the potential risks and benefits the substance or new organism may pose to the environment, human health, the relationship of Māori to the environment, society, community, and to the market economy. The role is equivalent to an RMA Commissioner. “The role is extremely varied” says Ngaire.  “I’ve considered everything from the ozone-depleting capacity of car refrigerants to parasitic wasps as bio-control agents. I really enjoy being able to use a broad range of scientific and life skills to have a direct effect on how our environment is managed.”