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How ChemMatrix Helps NZ Farmers Stay Compliant While EPA Approvals Catch Up

ChemMatrix Solves the Problem Highlighted in the Article

The article highlights a growing frustration across New Zealand’s farming sector: new fertilisers and pesticides are taking too long to be approved, even when they are already proven and in use overseas, particularly in Australia. Farmers are left stuck in the middle — needing to stay productive while navigating unclear compliance obligations.

This is where ChemMatrix, as a hazardous substances (HazSubs) and SDS compliance platform, plays a critical role.

Here are five practical ways ChemMatrix helps alleviate the problem.

1. Centralising Trusted SDS Information in One Place

One of the biggest pain points for farmers is fragmented information. Safety Data Sheets are scattered across supplier websites, outdated PDFs, and email attachments.

ChemMatrix:

  • Centralises verified SDS information for fertilisers, pesticides, fuels, and farm chemicals

  • Ensures SDSs are current, searchable, and version-controlled

  • Gives farmers confidence they are using the right safety information, even when regulatory approvals are still in progress

This removes guesswork and reduces the risk of accidental non-compliance.

2. Referencing Trusted Overseas Approvals (e.g. Australia)

The article specifically notes the call for using trusted overseas data, such as Australian approvals, to speed up access to safer products.

ChemMatrix supports this by:

  • Linking SDSs to overseas regulatory references (e.g. APVMA classifications)

  • Clearly showing when a product is approved overseas but pending in NZ

  • Helping farmers and suppliers understand what is known, what is allowed, and what requires caution

This does not bypass NZ law — it provides context, transparency, and informed decision-making while approvals lag.

3. Turning SDS Data into Plain-English Farm Advice

SDS documents are written for chemists and regulators, not people working in gumboots.

ChemMatrix translates SDS data into:

  • Practical storage advice (what can sit together, what can’t)

  • Clear PPE requirements that match real farm conditions

  • Simple handling and spill-response guidance

  • Warnings about drift, runoff, and stock exposure

This directly addresses the article’s concern that innovation is being held back by complexity, not by safety itself.

4. Automatically Supporting HSNO and EPA Compliance

While EPA approval delays are outside a farmer’s control, HSNO compliance is not.

ChemMatrix helps farmers:

  • Maintain a live hazardous substances register

  • Identify which products trigger signage, secondary containment, or emergency plans

  • Demonstrate due diligence during inspections or audits

Even when a product is under regulatory review, farmers can still show they are managing risk correctly, which is exactly what regulators expect.

5. Creating a Data Bridge Between Farmers, Suppliers, and Regulators

The article points to a wider system problem: information silos.

ChemMatrix acts as a digital bridge by:

  • Allowing suppliers and manufacturers to upload verified SDSs

  • Giving farmers confidence that the information is supplier-backed and current

  • Creating structured data that can, over time, support faster regulatory assessment and alignment

This reduces duplication, improves transparency, and supports the EPA’s stated goal of modernising how chemical data is assessed and shared.

Why This Matters Right Now

EPA approval delays may continue, but farm operations cannot pause. ChemMatrix doesn’t replace regulation — it fills the practical gap by helping farmers stay safe, compliant, and productive while the system catches up.

In short:

  • Farmers get clarity instead of confusion

  • Suppliers get a trusted compliance channel

  • Regulators get better data quality over time

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