G/TBT/N/NZL/97  
5 March 2020  
(20-1752) 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 the Environment  
Environment House  
23 Kate Sheppard Place,  
Thorndon  
Wellington  
New Zealand  
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/contact  
AirQualityNESsubmissions@m fe.govt.nz   
+64 800 499 700  
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:   
Stand ards New Zealand  
Ph +64 4 498 5990  
wto@standards.co.nz   
www.standards.govt.nz  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 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):  Wood, 
coal, multi -fuel and pellet burners, used for domestic space heating, cooking, water 
heating and open fires.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposed 
amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality: particulate matter 
and mercury emissions - consultation document (44 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The current burner standards do not equitably target all 
household particulate matter emissions. They only apply to domestic woodburners used 
for space heating. Emissions from other uses of household burners and other types of fuel 
that contribute  to particulate matter pollution are not controlled.We propose lowering 
the emissions standard for domestic burners to 1.0g/kg (from 1.5g/kg), and extending 
these regulations to include discharges from all types of domestic, solid -fuel burners 
newly instal led in a building on properties less than two hectares in size. This would 
include wood, coal, multi -fuel and pellet burners, and would cover burners used for space 
heating, cooking, water heating and open fires.  G/TBT/N/NZL/97  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Air pollution from particulate matter affects human health. Exposure to 
particulate matter, particularly fine particles (PM 2.5), can cause disease and premature 
death from respiratory and cardiovasc ular causes, and exacerbate asthma and 
emphysema. In New Zealand, the main source of PM 2.5 is burning wood and coal for home 
heating during winter . 
8. Relevant documents:   
1. Proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality: 
particulate matter and mercury emissions - consultation document.  
2. New Zealand Gazette  
3. Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Air Quality) 
Regulations 2004  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be confirmed – regulation amendments are not 
expected until 2021, and any transitional requirements would further delay relevant 
provisions coming into effect.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  Entry into force 2021 (indicat ive date)  
10. Final date for comments:  8 May 2020  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/air/proposed -amendments -national -
environmental -standards -air-quality -particulate -matter  for additional information also 
see https://www.mfe.govt.nz/consultations/improving -our-air