6Minister must take precautionary approach

6  Minister must take precautionary approach

 (1) The Minister must take a precautionary approach to the performance of functions and the exercise of powers under this Act and the rules, to the extent the Minister can do so consistently with the other provisions of this Act and the rules.

 (2) A precautionary approach means an approach that recognises that the lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing a measure to prevent degradation of the environment where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage.