G/TBT/N/NZL/99  
1 April 2020  
(20-2621) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  NEW ZEALAND   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Ministry for Primary Industries  
Charles Fergusson Building  
34-38 Bowen Street  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
New Zealand  
Tel: +64 4 830 1574  
Email: organics.consultation@mpi.govt.nz  
Website: www.mpi.govt.nz  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different  from above:   
Standards New Zealand  
Phone: +64 4 498 5990  
Email: wto@standards.co.nz   
Website: www.standards.govt.nz  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  The 
Organic Products Bill enables all organic products to be regulated. The Bill will only apply 
to products that are covered by national organic standards established in secondary 
legislation. The first standard to be developed will cover food, beverages, plant and animal 
products.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of th e notified document:  Organic 
Products Bill (58 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The New Zealand Government is proposing new legislation 
enabling the development of mandatory national standards for organic products.  
The Organic Products Bil l 2020 (the Bill), provides a framework for regulating organic 
products.   The Bill would:  
1. Require all organic businesses who make organic claims to be approved by 
meeting all the requirements in the relevant standards set forth in regulations;  
2. Allow for the development of regulations and national organic standards 
detailing production and comp liance requirements for certain products.  G/TBT/N/NZL/99  
 
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  3. Allow for requirements to be set for third parties who will check organic 
businesses and take part in ongoing compliance.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consu mer information, labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Organic Products Bill (58 pages, in English).  
• Discussion document: Would New Zealand benefit from organic regulation?   (29 
pages, in English).     
• G/TBT/N/NZL/81 -Notification -New Zealand -Organic products (1 page, i n 
English)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  December 2020  
Proposed date of entry into force:  June 2021  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Ministry for Primary Industries  
Charles Fergusson Building  
34 -38 Bowen Street  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
New Zealand  
Tel: +64 4 830 1574  
Email: info@mpi.govt.nz  
Website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news -and-resources/consultations/propos ed-
changes -to-the-way-organic -production -is-regulated/