G/TBT/N/NZL/105  
3 May 2021  
(21-3735) Page: 1/3 
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  
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011  
PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140  
New Zealand  
Phone +64 4 472 0030 or +64 4 917 0199  
Fax +64 4 473 4638 or +64 4 917 0190  
info@mbie.govt.nz  
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:   
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 
proposed regulations apply to products iden tified as either a "building product" or 
"building method". "Building product" means a product that could reasonably be expected 
to be used as a component of a building. "Building method" means a method for using 
one or more products or things as part of b uilding work.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Discussion 
Document: Building System Reform (127 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  New Zealand is proposing regulations in relation to building 
products and m ethods. There are three key aspects to the regulations:  
Building Product Information Requirements (new mandatory regulations), Modular 
Component Manufacturer Certification Scheme (new voluntary scheme), and Product 
Certification Scheme (modification of exi sting voluntary scheme).  
Building Product Information Requirements  
The new primary legislation will enable regulations to be made that specify a minimum 
level of information that must be provided by manufacturers or suppliers of building 
products, as well as the form and manner in which the information must be provided.  G/TBT/N/NZL/105  
 
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  Specific requirements are proposed for information related to building product compliance 
with the New Zealand Building Code to ensure that consistent information is provided to 
support  building product users to carry out their role. Proposals made in the discussion 
document include:  
• supply chain responsibilities to meet Building Product Information Requirements  
• content of information to be provided about building products  
• supply chain d ata and information standards  
• transition period.  
Modular component manufacturers scheme  
The proposed modular component manufacturer certification scheme is a new voluntary 
scheme that will provide more efficient and consistent building consent approaches f or 
manufacturers that are able to meet quality assurance and performance standards. These 
manufacturers will also have a demonstrated ability to produce modular components that 
comply with the New Zealand Building Code.  
Product Certification Scheme  
New Zea land's product certification scheme, CodeMark, is an existing, voluntary scheme 
that allows building products and methods to be certified. Building consent authorities 
must rely on a CodeMark certificate as proof that the product or method complies with 
the New Zealand Building Code (if the conditions on the certificate have been met. 
Proposed changes to the scheme will:  
• implement registration requirements for product certification bodies  
• implement registration requirements for certificates  
• improve scheme  requirements for product certification body accreditation  
• strengthen requirements for product certification body audits and reviews of 
certificates.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:   
The primary legislation and proposed regulations seek to:  
• address gaps and weak incentives in the regulation of building products and 
methods  
• lift the quality of building work and provide fairer outcomes if things go wrong  
• address barriers and delays for  more innovative ways of off -site manufacturing  
• strengthen the current framework for product certification.  
Quality requirements  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Components, and Other 
Matters) Amendment Bill previously notified  
• Discussion document: Building System Reform https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have -
your-say/building -system -reform/  G/TBT/N/NZL/105  
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption:  Regulations for the  modular component manufacturer 
certification scheme and the product certification scheme will commence as soon as the 
regulations are made (no later than 15 months from the date of Royal assent of the 
Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Compo nents, and Other Matters) 
Amendment Bill).  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Regulations for Building Product Information 
Requirements will also be made no later 15 months from the date of Royal assent of the 
Bill. However, an 18 month transitional period is proposed as part of the Building Product 
Information Requirements in order to provide the sector with sufficient time to make the 
changes required to their systems and processes.  
10. Final date for comments:  2 July 2021  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
The Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Components, and Other Matters) 
Amendment Bill is available at www.legislation.govt.nz.   
The discussion document is available at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have -your-
say/building -system -reform/