Requirements for importers and retailers

If you want to import certain goods into New Zealand, they must comply with the required Standards. If they do not comply, they will not be permitted to enter the country. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of any relevant regulations.

What we don't do
Please note that Consumer Affairs: does not provide testing or accreditation services, and is unable to offer legal or compliance advice.

There is no government agency in New Zealand which approves products for sale. For further information relating to a specific product, you should seek an independent legal opinion from a commercial lawyer.

'Safe' products
There are few mandatory standards in New Zealand but there is a general legal requirement under the Consumer Guarantees Act that all products sold in New Zealand should be safe. This is not defined, but would cover such issues as testing to voluntary standards, the likely use and foreseeable misuse of the product, how it is marketed, and particularly whether it would be appealing to children. If a product is likely to be used by children or infants, ormistaken for a toy, there would be some concerns about its safety regardless of whether it falls under any specified regulations. We also recommend consideration of principles (included in the toy safety standard AS/NZS 8124) such as reasonably foreseeable abuse, where a product may be used in a way which it is not designed for, but which may pose safety hazards if used in this way.

Supplying safe goods

In essence, the legal onus is squarely on suppliers to supply safe goods but the law is not prescriptive as to how that should be done. The best way therefore of showing that a product is safe is that it complies with a relevant product safety standard, carrying a certificate of compliance from a laboratory which is accredited to carry out testing to that standard. The general preference in New Zealand is to use a New Zealand standard or Australia/New Zealand joint standard. In that regard for New Zealand and Australia you should consult with Standards New Zealand to see which standards may be appropriate for your product. If no suitable AS/NZS standards are available, you may look towards ISO, European or American standards for similar products. Contact Standards New Zealand by calling 0800 STANDARDS (0800 735 656) or visit the Standards NZ website. The product safety standard regulations are available from selected bookshops or visit New Zealand Legislation. (There is no charge to browse the statutes and regulations available on the New Zealand legislation website).

Fair Trading Act

Failure to comply with mandatory standards constitutes a breach of the Fair Trading Act, which is enforced by the Commerce Commission. See here for more information. For details of accredited testing facilities you may wish to contact IANZ International Accreditation New Zealand, who may be able to provide details of appropriate test laboratories. Visit the IANZ website.

Importer's Declaration of Conformity

Goods may require certification to prove that they comply with product standards. Importers of hot water bottles and cigarette lighters will be required to produce additional documentation for any shipment. Unless your consignment has certification to prove that it complies with the relevant Standard, it is likely to be stopped at Customs. You as the importer are liable for producing the necessary documents to prove that the goods may be brought into the country. Test Certificates must be from a laboratory which is accredited for the specific tests required. Contact International Accreditation New Zealand for details of testing laboratories.

Hot water bottles

need a Test certificate from a laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 for testing to BS1970, certifying that the hot water bottles comply with British Standard BS 1970:2001 or BS 1970:2006 Hot water bottles manufactured from rubber and PVC Specification. The certificate must be less than 36 months old and statutory declaration stating that the documents produced relate to the hot water bottles being imported.

View a sample copy of Hot Water Bottles Suppliers Declaration of Conformity is available here [PDF].

Cigarette Lighters
need a Certificate of compliance that states that the lighter complies with the American standard 16 CFR 1210.4 provides the name and address of the manufacturer the physical site of manufacture and the month in which manufacture of the lighter occurred.

This information must be made available to an officer of the New Zealand Customs Service or the Commerce Commission within 10 days of any such request.

Current Product Safety Standards

Baby walkers must comply with specific sections of the American Standard ASTM F977-03 Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers under the Product Safety Standards (Baby Walkers) Regulations 2001 and the 2005 amendment. Childrens nightwear must comply with specific parts of the Standard AS/NZS 1249:2003 Childrens Nightwear and limited daywear having reducing fire hazard (with NZ only Amendment A 2008) under the Product Safety Standard (Childrens Nightwear and Limited Daywear Having Reduced Fire Hazard) Regulations 2008. Childrens toys must comply with specific parts of the Standard AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2002 Safety of toys - Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties under the Product Safety Standards (Toys) Regulations 2005 for toys intended for use by children up to the age of 36 months. Household cots must comply with specific sections of the Standard AS/NZS 2172:2003 Cots for household use Safety requirements under the Product Safety Standards (Household Cots) Regulations. Pedal bicycles must comply with specific sections of the standard AS/NZS 1927:1998 Pedal bicycles Safety requirements under the Product Safety Standards (Pedal Bicycle) Regulations 2000 and the 2003 amendment. Cigarette lighters must comply with specific sections of two Standards: ISO 9994:1995E and American Standard CFR 16 Part 1210 Safety Standard for Cigarette Lighters under the Product Safety Standards (Cigarette Lighters) Regulations 1998. See above for details.

View a sample copy of the Cigarette Lighters - Suppliers Declaration of Conformity [PDF 24KB]. See here for more informaton on current Product Safety Standards.

Current Unsafe Goods Notices

Unsafe Goods (Small High Powered Magnets) Notice 2013 Unsafe Goods (Multipurpose Ladders) Notice 2012 Unsafe Goods (Chainsaws without a chain brake) Notice 2009 Unsafe Goods (Lead in children's toys) Indefinite Prohibition Notice 2009

Childrens toys which contain lead in their accessible parts at a migration level greater than 90 mg/kg of toy material are declared to be unsafe goods and are prohibited from supply indefinitely. Unsafe Goods (Hot Water Bottles) Notice 2008

Rubber and plastic hot water bottles must comply with the British Standard BS 1970:2001. See above for details. Unsafe Goods (Candles and Candlewicks) Notice 2001 Unsafe Goods (Pistol Crossbows) Notice 1988.

See here for more information on Current Unsafe Goods Notices.

 Additional further information may also be found at: Commerce Commission New Zealand Legislation Standards New Zealand New Zealand Customs Service