Regulations updated for chemicals, pesticides and noise

Updated regulations for noise, pesticides and environmentally hazardous chemicals have now commenced.

The Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2017, the Pesticides Regulation 2017 and the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Regulation 2017 (EHC) have all been updated to include important changes, following a review by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Changes to the Noise Control Regulation make neighbourhood noise requirements easier to understand and reflect current community expectations.

EPA Director for Regulatory Reform and Advice David Fowler said the reforms streamline and modernise existing noise regulations and remove obsolete clauses.

“The noise control regulation continues important restrictions that balance the rights of people to carry out reasonable activities with the need to protect neighbours,” Fowler said.

“The regulation is the main tool used by the NSW EPA, councils and police to manage neighbourhood noise.”

Improvements to the Pesticides Regulation meanwhile will make record keeping a simpler process for most pesticide users, provide simpler refresher training requirements for agricultural users, introduce a new nationally harmonised licence category and update penalties for infringements.

EPA Director of Hazardous Materials, Chemicals and Radiation Asela Atapattu said the updated Pesticides Regulation will help deliver a single national regulatory framework for the use of pesticides.

“The updated Pesticides Regulation will make it easier to legally comply with the proper use of pesticides, which reduces risks to human health and the environment,” Atapattu said.

Amendments have also been made to the EHC regulation with changes to existing licence fees and technology assessment fees.

Atapattu said licence fees have not been reviewed since 2008, so the proposed increases will help the EPA ensure licensing activities remain relevant.