Requirements for Importers and Retailers

This Topic Includes:
Importer's Declaration of Conformity
Current Product Safety Standards
Current Unsafe Goods Notices

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. Products affected are those covered by mandatory Product Safety Standards or Unsafe Goods Notices.

Failure to comply with Product Safety Standard Regulations is a breach of the Fair Trading Act. In addition to this, all goods sold in New Zealand must be safe in order to comply with the requirements of the Consumer Guarantees Act.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs does not provide testing or accreditation services and is unable to offer compliance advice. If you are not sure what is required, or what standards apply to your business or product, you should seek independent legal advice from a solicitor or business advisor.

Any relevant standards referred to in the Regulations can be purchased from Standards New Zealand by calling 0800 STANDARDS (0800 735 656) or via its website [external website].

The product safety standard regulations are available from selected bookshops or visit New Zealand Legislation [external website].  (There is no charge to browse the statutes and regulations available on the New Zealand legislation 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.

View here for details of suitable 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. A sample copy of the declaration is available here.

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.
• Children’s nightwear must comply with specific parts of the Standard AS/NZS 1249:2003 Children’s Nightwear and limited daywear having reducing fire hazard (with NZ only Amendment A 2008) under the Product Safety Standard (Children’s Nightwear and Limited Daywear Having Reduced Fire Hazard) Regulations 2008.
• Children’s 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.

Current Unsafe Goods Notices

• Unsafe Goods (Lead in children's toys) Indefinite Prohibition Notice 2009

  Children’s 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 2007

  Rubber and plastic hot water bottles must comply with the British Standard BS 1970:2001. See above for details.

• Unsafe Goods (Tian Mao Water Colour Paints Sets) Notice 2008
• Unsafe Goods (Candles and Candlewicks) Notice 2001
• Unsafe Goods (Pistol Crossbows) Notice 1988.

Further information may be found at:

• Commerce Commission [external website]
• New Zealand Legislation [external website]
• Standards New Zealand [external website]
• New Zealand Customs Service [external website]  

For a list of accredited laboratories, contact International Accreditation New Zealand [external website].