G/TBT/N/NZL/68  
 
5 June 2014  
(14-3292)  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 Transport 
PO Box 3175 
Wellington, New Zealand Tel +64 4 439 9000 
Fax +64 4 439 9001 
Email: R.Brown2@transport.govt.nz  
Web: http://www.tran sport.govt.nz  
Name and address (including telephon e 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 :    
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: 8703: Motor 
Cars & Vehicles for Transporting Persons; 8704: Motor Vehicles for Transport of Goods 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Regulatory 
Impact Statement: Mandating Electronic Stability Control for Light Vehicles (21 pages, in English). http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/light-vehicle-brakes-amendment-2014/  
6. Description of content: Mandatory Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for light passenger 
and goods vehicles (vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 3,500kg or less, excluding motorcycles, mopeds and trailers
) entering the New Zealand fleet would be effected by 
amending Land Transport Rule: Light-vehicle Brakes 2002.  
It is proposed to mandate ESC acco rding to the following timetable: 
 all new light passenger and goods vehicles first registered in New Zealand from 1 
July 2015 
 used class MC vehicles (four-wheel-drive SUVs and off-road vehicles) first 
registered in New Zealand from 1 January 2016 
 used class MA vehicles (passenger cars) with engine capacity greater than 2 litres 
first registered in New Zealand from 1 January 2018 
 all used light passenger and goods vehicles first registered in New Zealand from 1 
January 2020 
Light vehicles registered for the first time after these dates will be required to have ESC. G/TBT/N/NZL/68 
 
- 2 - 
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Public safety: This proposed change fits under the Safer Journeys – New 
Zealand's Road Safety Strategy 2010-2020. This Strategy adopts a safe system 
approach. Its goal is a safe road system with reduced chances of death and serious 
injury. For vehicles, this entails a vehicle fleet that helps to reduce or avoid error, recover from error and absorb crash forces.  
Given the proven effectiveness of ESC in enabling drivers to avoid and recover from 
error, the policy goals are to: 
 maximise the safety benefits of ESC, 
 minimise any disruption to the supply and trade of vehicles, and 
 minimise compliance costs and government administration costs. 
8. Relevant documents:  The relevant regulations are the Land Transport Rule: Light-
vehicle Brakes 2002 http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources /rules/light-vehicle-brakes-2002-
index.html . If the proposal is implemented th ese regulations would be amended to 
incorporate the ESC requirements. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    1 July 2014 12 months after the Rule is amended i.e. 1 
July 2015  
10. Final date for comments: 27 June 2014 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:   
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/ light-vehicle-brake s-amendment-2014/