(1) The Minister may direct that he or she will decide an application under this Act if the Minister considers that the decision on the application will have—
(a) significant cultural, economic, environmental, ethical, health, international, or spiritual effects; or
(b) significant effects in an area in which the Authority lacks sufficient knowledge or experience.
(2) The direction shall include the Minister's reasons for giving it.
(2A) Sections 114 and 115 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 do not apply to a direction under subsection (1).
(2B) This section applies despite section 113 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(3) Where the application is for approval to release from containment any new organism, the Minister, in the Minister's discretion, may include in the direction given under subsection (1) of this section a statement specifying, in the circumstances of the particular case, what is or is not significant for the purposes of applying section 36 of this Act in respect of the application.
Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 30 October 2003, by section 39 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 54).
Subsections (2A) and (2B) were inserted, as from 25 January 2005, by section 200 Crown Entities Act 2004 (2004 No 115).