G/TBT/N/NZL/103/Add.1  
 
31 March 2022  
(22-2634) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication , dated  31 March 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of New Zealand . 
 
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Title:  Reducing the impact of plastic on our environment - moving away from hard-to-recycle and 
single -use items: consultation document  
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/waste/reducing -impact -of-plastic -our-environment -moving -
away-from-hard-to-recycle -and-single -use-items  
 
Reason for Addendum:  
[ ] Comment period changed - date:   
[ ] Notified measure adopted - date:  
[ ] Notified measure published - date:  
[X] Notified measure enters into force - date: The Regulations will commence on 1 October 
2022.  
[X] Text of final measure available from1:  
https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2022/0069/13.0/LMS654254.html  
[ ] Notified measure withdrawn or revoked - date:  
Relevant symbol if measure re -notified:   
[X] Content or scope of notified measure changed  and text available from1: 
https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2022/0069/13.0/LMS654254.html   
Small changes were made to the proposals of the consultation document following 
consultation with industry on the Tranche 1 regulations. These relate to the expansion 
of the PVC food tray phase -out (which was originally exclusive to PVC meat trays for 
tranche 1 with other types of PVC food and beverage packaging targeted for phase -out 
in tranche 3) and allowing exemptions for the cotton buds phase out for medical and 
scientific purposes.  
New deadline for comments (if applicable):   
[X] Interpretive guidance issued and text available from1:  
https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2022/0069/13.0/LMS654254.html  
[ ] Other:  
 
Description:  New Zealand has notified to the WTO through G/TBT/N/NZL/103 - Reducing the impact 
of plastic on our environment - moving away from hard -to-recycle and single -use items: consultation 
 
1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a pdf attachment, or other 
information on where the text of the final /modified  measure and/or interpretive guidance can be obtained.  G/TBT/N/NZL/103/Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  document, of our intention to introduce regulations phasing out (by 2025) problematic single -use 
and hard -to recycle plastic items where alternatives are viable and available . The regulations will 
come into force over three tranches between 2022 and 2025. This addendum notifies that the first 
tranche of these regulations will en ter into force on 1 October 2022.  
Small changes were made to the proposals of the consultation document following consultation with 
industry on the Tranche 1 regulations. These relate to the expansion of the PVC food tray phase -out 
(which was originally ex clusive to PVC meat trays for tranche 1 with other types of PVC food and 
beverage packaging targeted for phase -out in tranche 3) and allowing exemptions for the cotton 
buds phase out for medical and scientific purposes.  
The resulting Waste Minimisation (Pl astic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 were made on 17 
March 2022. The Regulations prohibit the sale and manufacture of certain hard -to-recycle and single -
use plastic items including: drink stirrers, cotton -buds, plastics with pro -degradants (such as  oxo- 
or photo -degradable), certain PVC food trays and containers, polystyrene takeaway food and drink 
packaging and expanded polystyrene food and drink packaging otherwise sold by retail.  
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