G/LIC/N/2/NZL/1  
 
20 September 2013  
(13-5022)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
  AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5 OF THE AGREEMENTi 
NEW ZEALAND  
The following notification, dated 18 September 2013,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of New Zealand. 
 
 
1.  (a) Title / number / date of the law or regulation establishing / changing 
the import licensing procedure: 
Psychoactive Substances Act 2013  
 (b) If the notified measure refers to a change in an already notified import 
licensing procedure, please indica te the document symbol of the 
notification to which change(s) has(ve) been introduced. (In this case 
please also indicate in Section 3, below, the nature of the changes (i.e. inclusion 
or exclusion of some goods and a list thereof; contact point for information 
and/or administrative body(ies) for submission of applications, etc.)): 
 N/A 
2. Information concerning the institution / change of import licensing procedure: 
(a) List of products subject to the licensing procedure  (Exact name of the 
products and/or whenever possible HS code and indication of the exact HS 
Nomenclature (i.e. 1996; 2002 or 2007).  Abbreviations should be avoided.  In 
the case of a long list of products, please attach the list as an Annex in Microsoft 
Word or compatible software.  Plea se do not use PDF, or photocopies .) 
New psychoactive substances, as defined in the UNODC document The Challenge 
of New Psychoactive Substances available from 
http://www.unodc.org/documents /scientific/NPS_2013_SMART.pdf  
Excludes products already regulated, such as tobacco, alcohol, and coffee  
 
(b) Contact point for information on eligibility  
Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority 
PO Box 5013 Wellington 6145 
NEW ZEALAND 
 Phone  : + 64 4 496 2000  Email Address  : psychoactives@moh.govt.nz  
 Website  : http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-   
system/psychoactive-substances  
     
Contact officer:  [ X] Mr. [] Mrs. Name:  DR DONALD HANNAH G/LIC/N/2/NZL/1 
 
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  (c) Administrative body(ies) fo r submission of applications  (If more than one 
please include the same information for each body.)  
Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority 
PO Box 5013 Wellington 6145 NEW ZEALAND 
Telephone:  +64 4 496 2000 
E-mail address:  psychoactives@moh.govt.nz  
 Website:  http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/re gulation-health-and-disability-
system/psychoactive-substances  
     
Contact officer:  [X] Mr. [   ] Mrs. Name:  DR DONALD HANNAH  
(d) Date and name of publication wher e licensing procedures are published  
Date of publication:  26/07/2013 Source of publication (Official Gazette /journal/ website):   
 http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/re gulation-health- and-disability-
system/psychoactive-substances  
(e) Indication of whether the licensing procedure is  
 [  ] automatic.   If so please indicate:  (f) the administrative purpose:   
 
 [X] non-automatic.  If so please  indicate:  (g) the measure being  
implemented through the import licensing procedure:  In the case of  
non-automatic licensing procedures , their administrative purpose : 
New Zealand regulates trade in novel psychoactive substances (that are otherwise  
unregulated) under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. An importer must hold 
a license to import psychoactive substances. New Zealand does not require 
individual imports to be licensed, but each import must be notified to the 
Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority before arriving in New Zealand.  
(h) Expected duration of the licensing procedure if this can be estimated 
with some probability, and if not, reason why this information cannot be 
provided 
 The Act came into effect on 18 July 2013. Regulations to give full effect to the 
regulatory regime are not yet complete. Until the regulations come into effect in 
early 2014, there is an interim licensing regime, under which persons who were engaged in importing prior to the Act coming into force, may continue to do so.  
3. Other relevant data or information:  (i.e. complete title and data concerning the 
legislation, inclusion or exclusion of certain products from the import licensing regime and list thereof; changes related to the ad ministrative body(ies) for submission of 
applications, etc.) 
Legislation available from NZ Government legislation website: 
 
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/pu blic/2013/0053/latest/DLM5042921.html  
 
__________ 
 
                                               
 i "Members which institute licensing procedures or changes in these procedures shall notify the 
Committee of such within 60 days of publication [...]" (Art. 5.1).