The Ministry for the Environment has opened public consultation on proposed changes to New Zealand's hazardous substances management system.

The ministry says the aim is to improve the process for assessing new and existing hazardous substances, thereby incentivising the introduction of beneficial and "greener" substances.

A number of opportunities for improving assessment have been identified.

"One of the options is to enable better use of overseas information to promptly assess any priority chemicals the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has identified as being in need of review. The EPA is responsible for assessing and setting the controls on the chemicals we use in our homes, workplaces, fields and factories."

The proposals are set out in a discussion document and submissions are sought by 5pm on 30 September 2019.

The ministry says the discussion document does not propose its preferred options. It says changes to assessments of new hazardous substances are limited to applying a "trusted regulator" approach. A broader review of the assessment process and changes to principles in the HSNO Act are outside the scope of the consultation.