Media Release - REVIEW OF SODIUM CYANIDE DECLARED

 

10 May 2002

 

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Trish Worth, has declared sodium cyanide a priority existing chemical (PEC) for full environmental assessment. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) will conduct the review.

The assessment will determine the risk of adverse effects to the environment by identifying the environmental hazards of sodium cyanide and the potential for environmental exposure in Australia. Recommendations on ways to reduce any identified risks will be made.

Sodium cyanide is widely used in Australia, mainly in gold mining, other precious metal reclaiming and in laboratory testing.

NICNAS is seeking information from anyone who may have information relevant to the assessment of sodium cyanide. Information should be provided by 9 August 2002.

Companies who wish to manufacture or import sodium cyanide during the period of the PEC review are required to apply to NICNAS, before 5 June 2002.

The full text of the notice of declaration, which was published in the May 2002 Chemical Gazette, is available from the NICNAS web site at http://www.nicnas.gov.au/Latest_News.asp
 

About NICNAS

The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) operates under the Commonwealth Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989.

NICNAS is a statutory scheme within the portfolio of the Minister for Health and Ageing. Its approach to the scientific assessment of chemicals covers toxicity, exposure and use to assess the environmental, public health and occupational health and safety risk. For more information see the web site www.nicnas.gov.au
 

Further information

Nick Miller, NICNAS, (02) 8577 8810 or 0407 228 285