Implementation of PCE recommendations on environmental fate of chemicals
J Bruning made this Official Information request to Nicola Grigg
Currently waiting for a response from Nicola Grigg, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: J Bruning
Dear Minister Grigg,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request information concerning the Government’s implementation of the eight recommendations made by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in the 2022 report Knowing what’s out there: Regulating the environmental fate of chemicals.
The recommendations concerned:
[1] a common cross-agency framework for prioritising chemicals according to scale of use, potential harm and environmental presence, designed with Māori involvement;
[2] regulations empowering the EPA to collect and report information on the quantity and use of chemicals in New Zealand;
[3] specific funding to improve the EPA’s modelling capabilities and develop New Zealand-specific environmental exposure scenarios;
[4] national guidance on best practice for monitoring the environmental fate of chemicals, including the respective roles of the EPA and regional councils;
[5] greater priority for the development and use of environmental exposure limits (EELs);
[6] policies addressing specific contamination pathways, including animal wastes, accumulation in agricultural soils, pharmaceuticals in wastewater, manufactured articles and by-products;
[7] an updated regulatory policy for treated seed; and
[8] consideration of a “friend of submitter” service for Māori through the EPA’s Kaupapa Kura Taiao team.
The Ministry for the Environment’s (now superseded) 2022 National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants stated:
“MfE and the EPA have initiated a joint work programme to implement those recommendations.”
However, in a 2025 conference address, the Parliamentary Commissioner stated:
“To date, no progress has eventuated either specifically in relation to chemical monitoring information or broader environmental information.”
I am aware that $10 million over two years was subsequently allocated from the Waste Disposal Levy to modernise the EPA’s environmental risk-assessment models, which appears to respond principally to Recommendation 3. I also understand that Recommendation 2 has been partly addressed through reporting of quantities imported or manufactured. However, this does not appear to provide information on actual chemical use, regional sales, application locations or regional exposure patterns.
I have been unable to identify a published implementation plan, funding allocation or substantive work programme addressing the remaining recommendations.
Please provide:
The current implementation status of each of the eight recommendations, including whether each recommendation is:
- completed;
- under implementation;
- planned;
- deferred;
- rejected; or
- otherwise not being progressed.
For each recommendation, copies of all relevant:
- implementation plans;
- work programmes;
- project briefs;
- Cabinet papers and minutes;
- ministerial briefings;
- agency advice;
- progress reports;
- funding proposals;
- budget allocations;
- timelines and milestones; and
- evaluations or reviews.
Details of the joint MfE–EPA work programme referred to in the 2022 National Implementation Plan, including:
- its terms of reference;
- governance and accountability arrangements;
- participating agencies;
- commencement date;
- staffing and budget;
- policy strategy
- progress reports; and
- whether the programme remains active.
For Recommendation 1, information on:
a. whether a common chemical-prioritisation framework has been developed;
b. which agencies have participated;
c. the criteria proposed or adopted;
d. how environmental presence is to be assessed;
e. how Māori have been involved in its design; and
f. any decision not to proceed with such a framework.
For Recommendation 2, information on:
a. the chemicals covered by current reporting requirements;
b. whether the Government has considered collecting regional sales, supply or actual-use data;
c. whether location, crop, industry, application method or application-rate data will be collected;
d. whether the information will be publicly reported; and
e. any advice on using these data to investigate regional environmental or occupational-health pressures.
For Recommendation 4, information on:
a. any work to develop national monitoring guidance;
b. the intended roles of MfE, the EPA and regional councils;
c. proposed priority chemicals, environmental media, sampling frequencies and analytical standards; and
d. any funding provided for monitoring.
For Recommendation 5, information on:
a. the number of environmental exposure limits currently in force;
b. any programme to establish, review or update EELs;
the substances prioritised;
c. staffing, funding and timelines; and
d. how compliance with EELs can be assessed where environmental monitoring is absent.
For Recommendation 6, information on policies or work programmes addressing:
a. animal wastes;
b. accumulation of contaminants in agricultural soils;
c. human and veterinary pharmaceuticals in wastewater;
d. manufactured articles;
e. treated materials;
f. industrial by-products; and
g. other indirect or poorly regulated contamination pathways.
For Recommendations 7 and 8, the current status of:
a. the EPA’s treated-seed policy and associated regulatory proposals; and
b. any dedicated “friend of submitter” or equivalent support service for whānau, hapū, iwi and other Māori entities.
Copies of any advice identifying financial, legislative, institutional or technical barriers to implementing any of the recommendations.
Where a recommendation is not being implemented, copies of the decision and reasons for not progressing it.
As these matters span both ministerial policy responsibility and the operational responsibilities of the EPA, please transfer any part of this request to the appropriate agency under section 14 of the Official Information Act where necessary.
Where substantial material is withheld, please identify the relevant withholding ground and provide the remaining information in redacted form rather than withholding entire documents.
Yours faithfully,
J Bruning
From: Nicola Grigg (MIN)
Nicola Grigg
(Please note that this acknowledgement is an automatically generated
email.)
Thank you for contacting Hon Nicola Grigg, Minister for the Environment,
Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Minister for Women, Associate
Minister for ACC and MP for Selwyn.
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Office of Hon Nicola Grigg
Minister for the Environment | Minister of State for Trade and Investment
Minister for Women | Associate Minister for ACC | MP for Selwyn
Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Email: [1][Nicola Grigg request email]
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From: Nicola Grigg (MIN)
Nicola Grigg
Good morning,
Thank you for your email of 18 July 2026 in which you submitted an
Official Information Act request as follows:
“Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request information
concerning the Government’s implementation of the eight recommendations
made by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in the 2022
report Knowing what’s out there: Regulating the environmental fate of
chemicals.
The recommendations concerned:
[1] a common cross-agency framework for prioritising chemicals according
to scale of use, potential harm and environmental presence, designed with
Māori involvement; [2] regulations empowering the EPA to collect and
report information on the quantity and use of chemicals in New Zealand;
[3] specific funding to improve the EPA’s modelling capabilities and
develop New Zealand-specific environmental exposure scenarios; [4]
national guidance on best practice for monitoring the environmental fate
of chemicals, including the respective roles of the EPA and regional
councils; [5] greater priority for the development and use of
environmental exposure limits (EELs); [6] policies addressing specific
contamination pathways, including animal wastes, accumulation in
agricultural soils, pharmaceuticals in wastewater, manufactured articles
and by-products; [7] an updated regulatory policy for treated seed; and
[8] consideration of a “friend of submitter” service for Māori through the
EPA’s Kaupapa Kura Taiao team.
The Ministry for the Environment’s (now superseded) 2022 National
Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants stated:
“MfE and the EPA have initiated a joint work programme to implement those
recommendations.”
However, in a 2025 conference address, the Parliamentary Commissioner
stated:
“To date, no progress has eventuated either specifically in relation to
chemical monitoring information or broader environmental information.”
I am aware that $10 million over two years was subsequently allocated from
the Waste Disposal Levy to modernise the EPA’s environmental
risk-assessment models, which appears to respond principally to
Recommendation 3. I also understand that Recommendation 2 has been partly
addressed through reporting of quantities imported or manufactured.
However, this does not appear to provide information on actual chemical
use, regional sales, application locations or regional exposure patterns.
I have been unable to identify a published implementation plan, funding
allocation or substantive work programme addressing the remaining
recommendations.
Please provide:
The current implementation status of each of the eight recommendations,
including whether each recommendation is:
- completed;
- under implementation;
- planned;
- deferred;
- rejected; or
- otherwise not being progressed.
For each recommendation, copies of all relevant:
- implementation plans;
- work programmes;
- project briefs;
- Cabinet papers and minutes;
- ministerial briefings;
- agency advice;
- progress reports;
- funding proposals;
- budget allocations;
- timelines and milestones; and
- evaluations or reviews.
Details of the joint MfE–EPA work programme referred to in the 2022
National Implementation Plan, including:
- its terms of reference;
- governance and accountability arrangements;
- participating agencies;
- commencement date;
- staffing and budget;
- policy strategy
- progress reports; and
- whether the programme remains active.
For Recommendation 1, information on:
a. whether a common chemical-prioritisation framework has been developed;
b. which agencies have participated; c. the criteria proposed or adopted;
d. how environmental presence is to be assessed; e. how Māori have been
involved in its design; and f. any decision not to proceed with such a
framework.
For Recommendation 2, information on:
a. the chemicals covered by current reporting requirements; b. whether the
Government has considered collecting regional sales, supply or actual-use
data; c. whether location, crop, industry, application method or
application-rate data will be collected; d. whether the information will
be publicly reported; and e. any advice on using these data to investigate
regional environmental or occupational-health pressures.
For Recommendation 4, information on:
a. any work to develop national monitoring guidance; b. the intended roles
of MfE, the EPA and regional councils; c. proposed priority chemicals,
environmental media, sampling frequencies and analytical standards; and d.
any funding provided for monitoring.
For Recommendation 5, information on:
a. the number of environmental exposure limits currently in force; b. any
programme to establish, review or update EELs; the substances prioritised;
c. staffing, funding and timelines; and d. how compliance with EELs can be
assessed where environmental monitoring is absent.
For Recommendation 6, information on policies or work programmes
addressing:
a. animal wastes;
b. accumulation of contaminants in agricultural soils; c. human and
veterinary pharmaceuticals in wastewater; d. manufactured articles; e.
treated materials; f. industrial by-products; and g. other indirect or
poorly regulated contamination pathways.
For Recommendations 7 and 8, the current status of:
a. the EPA’s treated-seed policy and associated regulatory proposals; and
b. any dedicated “friend of submitter” or equivalent support service for
whānau, hapū, iwi and other Māori entities.
Copies of any advice identifying financial, legislative, institutional or
technical barriers to implementing any of the recommendations.
Where a recommendation is not being implemented, copies of the decision
and reasons for not progressing it.”
Minister Grigg is considering your request in accordance with the Act, and
you can expect a response by Monday 17^th August 2026.
Kind regards,
Office of Hon Nicola Grigg
Minister for the Environment | Minister of State for Trade and Investment
Minister for Women | Associate Minister for ACC | MP for Selwyn
Email: [1][Nicola Grigg request email] Website: [2]www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
-----Original Message-----
From: J Bruning <[FOI #35088 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 18 July 2026 2:26 pm
To: Nicola Grigg (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: NGOIA151 Official Information request - Implementation of PCE
recommendations on environmental fate of chemicals
Dear Minister Grigg,
Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request information concerning
the Government’s implementation of the eight recommendations made by the
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in the 2022 report Knowing
what’s out there: Regulating the environmental fate of chemicals.
The recommendations concerned:
[1] a common cross-agency framework for prioritising chemicals according
to scale of use, potential harm and environmental presence, designed with
Māori involvement; [2] regulations empowering the EPA to collect and
report information on the quantity and use of chemicals in New Zealand;
[3] specific funding to improve the EPA’s modelling capabilities and
develop New Zealand-specific environmental exposure scenarios; [4]
national guidance on best practice for monitoring the environmental fate
of chemicals, including the respective roles of the EPA and regional
councils; [5] greater priority for the development and use of
environmental exposure limits (EELs); [6] policies addressing specific
contamination pathways, including animal wastes, accumulation in
agricultural soils, pharmaceuticals in wastewater, manufactured articles
and by-products; [7] an updated regulatory policy for treated seed; and
[8] consideration of a “friend of submitter” service for Māori through the
EPA’s Kaupapa Kura Taiao team.
The Ministry for the Environment’s (now superseded) 2022 National
Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants stated:
“MfE and the EPA have initiated a joint work programme to implement those
recommendations.”
However, in a 2025 conference address, the Parliamentary Commissioner
stated:
“To date, no progress has eventuated either specifically in relation to
chemical monitoring information or broader environmental information.”
I am aware that $10 million over two years was subsequently allocated from
the Waste Disposal Levy to modernise the EPA’s environmental
risk-assessment models, which appears to respond principally to
Recommendation 3. I also understand that Recommendation 2 has been partly
addressed through reporting of quantities imported or manufactured.
However, this does not appear to provide information on actual chemical
use, regional sales, application locations or regional exposure patterns.
I have been unable to identify a published implementation plan, funding
allocation or substantive work programme addressing the remaining
recommendations.
Please provide:
The current implementation status of each of the eight recommendations,
including whether each recommendation is:
- completed;
- under implementation;
- planned;
- deferred;
- rejected; or
- otherwise not being progressed.
For each recommendation, copies of all relevant:
- implementation plans;
- work programmes;
- project briefs;
- Cabinet papers and minutes;
- ministerial briefings;
- agency advice;
- progress reports;
- funding proposals;
- budget allocations;
- timelines and milestones; and
- evaluations or reviews.
Details of the joint MfE–EPA work programme referred to in the 2022
National Implementation Plan, including:
- its terms of reference;
- governance and accountability arrangements;
- participating agencies;
- commencement date;
- staffing and budget;
- policy strategy
- progress reports; and
- whether the programme remains active.
For Recommendation 1, information on:
a. whether a common chemical-prioritisation framework has been developed;
b. which agencies have participated; c. the criteria proposed or adopted;
d. how environmental presence is to be assessed; e. how Māori have been
involved in its design; and f. any decision not to proceed with such a
framework.
For Recommendation 2, information on:
a. the chemicals covered by current reporting requirements; b. whether the
Government has considered collecting regional sales, supply or actual-use
data; c. whether location, crop, industry, application method or
application-rate data will be collected; d. whether the information will
be publicly reported; and e. any advice on using these data to investigate
regional environmental or occupational-health pressures.
For Recommendation 4, information on:
a. any work to develop national monitoring guidance; b. the intended roles
of MfE, the EPA and regional councils; c. proposed priority chemicals,
environmental media, sampling frequencies and analytical standards; and d.
any funding provided for monitoring.
For Recommendation 5, information on:
a. the number of environmental exposure limits currently in force; b. any
programme to establish, review or update EELs; the substances prioritised;
c. staffing, funding and timelines; and d. how compliance with EELs can be
assessed where environmental monitoring is absent.
For Recommendation 6, information on policies or work programmes
addressing:
a. animal wastes;
b. accumulation of contaminants in agricultural soils; c. human and
veterinary pharmaceuticals in wastewater; d. manufactured articles; e.
treated materials; f. industrial by-products; and g. other indirect or
poorly regulated contamination pathways.
For Recommendations 7 and 8, the current status of:
a. the EPA’s treated-seed policy and associated regulatory proposals; and
b. any dedicated “friend of submitter” or equivalent support service for
whānau, hapū, iwi and other Māori entities.
Copies of any advice identifying financial, legislative, institutional or
technical barriers to implementing any of the recommendations.
Where a recommendation is not being implemented, copies of the decision
and reasons for not progressing it.
As these matters span both ministerial policy responsibility and the
operational responsibilities of the EPA, please transfer any part of this
request to the appropriate agency under section 14 of the Official
Information Act where necessary.
Where substantial material is withheld, please identify the relevant
withholding ground and provide the remaining information in redacted form
rather than withholding entire documents.
Yours faithfully,
J Bruning
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From: Service Hub
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Acknowledgement of your Official Information Act Request 26-OIAD-02063
Kia ora J Bruning.,
Thank you for your Official Information Act request received
on 18/07/2026.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and in
any event no later than 20 working days after the day your request was
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