G/TBT/N/NZL/115  
13 September 2022  
(22-6739) 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 of Business, Innovation and Employment  
PO Box 1473  
Wellington 6140  
New Zealand  
Email: energymarkets@mbie.govt.nz  
Website: https://www.mbie.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:   
New Zealand TBT Enquiry Point  
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 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Mineral 
transport fuels and biofuels, this includes the following:  
2709 - Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bi tuminous minerals, crude  
2710 - Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and 
preparations not elsewhere specified, containing by weight 70 % or more of petroleum 
oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these o ils being the basic constituents 
of the preparations; waste oils  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Cabinet Paper 
- Sustainable Biofuels Obligation: Final policy design (30 pages in English)  
The Sustainable Biofuels Obliga tion: proposals for regulations (30 pages in English); (60 
page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The Sustainable Biofuels Obligation will require importers and 
domestic producers of liquid transport fuels to reduce the emissions intensity of the ir fuel 
supply by a set percentage each year through the deployment of biofuels. Biofuels used 
to meet the Obligation will be assessed using a lifecycle emissions analysis methodology 
to determine their GHG emissions intensity.  G/TBT/N/NZL/115  
 
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  The obligation will apply to  all transport fuels, excluding domestic aviation fuel. An 
aviation -based obligation will be developed over a longer timeframe.  
The Obligation is currently scheduled to enter into force from 1 April 2023. The timing of 
this proposed measure may be subject to change, in which case an addendum notification 
will be issued.  
Only biofuels that are determined to be sustainable will be eligible under the Obligation. 
Methodologies to determine the sustainability of biofuels will be set out in supporting 
regulations . This could include the use of existing sustainability certifications schemes 
such as the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Plus Standard.  
Regulations may also place limits or restrictions on the extent to which an obligated party 
may meet their obligation by means of a particular type of biofuel, particularly with 
respect to feedstocks, to address issues of indirect land use change.  
The supporting regulatory framework will be developed in late 2022 and will provide 
further detail o n the methodology for determining the sustainability of biofuels, and limits 
or restrictions on particular types of biofuels. An addendum notification will be issued once 
this detail is available.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The primary objective of the Sustainable Biofuels Obligation is to reduce 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in New Zealand's transport fleet through the 
deployment of sustainable biofuels. The Obligation will be a key part of  how New Zealand's 
Emissions Reduction Plan and the net -zero carbon 2050 target will be met.  
To achieve this, it is important to ensure that any biofuels used to meet the obligation 
are credible and genuinely sustainable. The Obligation and supporting regu latory 
framework will be developed in a manner that promotes the cultivation of biofuels and 
feedstocks in a manner that prevents adverse environmental or social impacts and 
ensures that any greenhouse gas benefits are genuine.  
8. Relevant documents:   
Cabinet Paper – The Sustainable Biofuels Obligation – Final Policy Design 
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have -your-say/increasing -the-use-of-sustainable -biofuels -in-
aotearoa -new-zealand/  
Discussion document - The Sustainable Biofuels Obligation - Proposals for Regulations 
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/21273 -the-sustainable -biofuels -obligation -
proposals -for-regulations -pdf 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  1 December 2022; May be subject to change  
Proposed date of entry into force:  3 April 2023; May be subject to change  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
New Zealand TBT Enquiry Point  
Standards New Zealand  
Phone: +64 4 498 5990  
Email: wto@standards.co.nz  
Website: www.standards.govt.nz