Official Information Act Request
Requester’s details
Date: 27 February 2023
Name: J Bruning
Email: [FYI request #25602 email]
Reference number: ENQ-47448-B9X2B6
Tēnā koe J Bruning
I refer to your request received on 2 February 2024:
A. Please confirm all members of the Decision-Making Committee (DMC) as
mentioned on this page.
https:/ aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.govt.
nz%2Fcommunity-involvement%2Fscience-at-work%2Fsars-cov-2-vaccines-and-the-
hsno-
act%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cministerials%40epa.govt.nz%7Cb4ab8002eaf94242e35
208dc23ab1365%7C816e350867224a9e9741205ebf854538%7C0%7C0%7C638424
465589929410%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoi
V2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PvR%2F
0STSpNC5Teb5UrskmznaSCZXJQ8555xkZ1qwN5s%3D&reserved=0
B. Please provide all information and advice sent from Tim Strabala to the Decision-
Making Commit ee (DMC) members including Dr Kerry Laing (Chair) and Dr Julie
Everett-Hincks from January 22nd to February 11 in relation to the DMC's
determination whether the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 (COMIRNATYTM) was a
new organism for the purpose of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act
1996.
This date (Jan 22) is the rough date when it was agreed that a DMC would be
convened.
All members of the DMC are listed in the decision document:
APP204176-Decision.pdf
(epa.govt.nz)
The rest of the information we are providing in response to your request is attached. Some of
the information you have requested has been redacted under section 9(2)(a) of the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA) to protect the privacy of natural persons, and some is deliberative
material that has been withheld under section 9(2)(ba)(i) of the OIA to protect an obligation of
confidence where release would likely prejudice the supply of similar information, or
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information from the same source and it is in the public interest that the information continue
to be supplied.
We consider there is good reason to redact and withhold this information that outweigh the
public interest in making it available.
I hope this information is helpful. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by
the Ombudsman of this decision under section 28(3) of the OIA. You can contact the
Ombudsman on 0800 802 602, or by email at [email address]
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us via
[email address]
We may publish your request and our response on our website,
www.epa.govt.nz. We make
OIA responses available so others can read more about the work we do and the questions
we are asked. Any information that might identify you wil be removed to protect your privacy.
Nāku noa nā
Dr Christopher Hill
General Manager, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
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Document Outline
