Under the Environment Protection Act 2017, the Governor in Council can issue an environmentally hazardous substances order (EHSO) if a substance:
- is highly hazardous, or
- poses a serious risk of harm to human health or the environment.
Substances that are environmentally hazardous include:
- highly hazardous wastes that need urgent controls
- products made with or from hazardous substances
- hazardous substances in storage.
An EHSO may:
- prohibit hazardous substances
- require the management or control of hazardous substances.
An EHSO sets requirements, conditions and standards of conduct and management. For example, it can legally require that records be kept for a product or substance of concern.
Current environmentally hazardous substance orders
Current EHSOs issued under section 154 of the Environment Protection Act 2017 are for:
- polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- organotin antifouling paint.
Both these EHSOs were notifiable chemical orders (NCOs) under the former Environment Protection Act 1970. They became EHSOs under the 2017 Act.
View the gazetted NCO notices under the 1970 Act:
- Victoria Government Gazette 51, 24 December 1997– original NCO for PCBs
- Victoria Government Gazette S5, 1 February 2000 – variation of the NCO for PCBs
- Victoria Government Gazette S94, 29 June 2000 – NCO for organotin antifouling paint.
Updated