G/TBT/N/NZL/66  
 
28 February 2013  
(13-1087)  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 Consumer Affairs 
Measurement & Product Safety Service 
33 Bowen Street Wellington 
New Zealand 
Primary Contact: Martin Rushton Principal Advisor Telephone: +64 4 462 4222 
Fax: +64 4 473 9400 
Email:  martin.rushton@mca.govt.nz  
Web:  http://www.consumeraffairs.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 [   ], 2.10.1 [X], 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):  Small high 
powered magnets under tariff codes 8505.11, 8505.19, and ICS Code 29.030. 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:  Unsafe Goods 
(Small High Powered Magnets) Notice 2013 (4 pages, in English).  Made under Section 31 of the Fair Trading Act 1986 - Notice given by  the Minister of Consumer Affairs.     
6. Description of content:  The effect of the unsafe goods notice is to declare certain 
goods, namely small high powered magnets, as being unsafe goods and prohibited for 
supply for an 18 month period  from 24 January 2013.  G/TBT/N/NZL/66 
 
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7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Small high powered magnets are deemed to present an unacceptable risk to 
users. These magnets are made from neodymium and are many times stronger than 
conventional magnets of a similar size.  
There have numerous confirmed incidents of serious injuries to toddlers (under 3 years of 
age) and older children (8-14 years) requir ing major surgery both in New Zealand and 
overseas.  There has also been at least one reported fatality from Queensland in Australia.  
Injuries and harm occur when two or more ma gnets are ingested and become joined in a 
child's digestive system. This can lead to inflammation, perforation, sepsis and in extreme 
cases death. Advice from stakeholders consulted during the development of the notice was strongly in favour of this measure being implemented. 
This notice is targeted at sets of two or more small high powered magnets that are 
intended for personal, domestic or household use.  The Notice defines size and magnetic 
strength criteria  based on AS/NZS ISO 8124.1:2010. 
The notice will remain in place from 24 January 2013 for a period of 18 months unless 
amended or revoked by the Minister of Consumer Affairs. 
8. Relevant documents:   The Unsafe Goods (Small High Powered Magnets) Notice 2013 is 
in effect until 24 July 2014.   
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    24 January 2013 
10. Final date for comments:  Not applicable. However the Ministry of Consumer Affairs will 
be happy to receive comments from, and respond to, WTO members. 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [  ], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:    
http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/pdf -library/Unsafe-Go ods-High-Powered-
Magnets.pdf?searchterm=magnets  
or 
Ministry of Consumer Affairs 
Measurement & Product Safety Service 33 Bowen Street Wellington 
New Zealand 
Telephone: +64 4 462 4222 Fax: + 64 4 473 9400 
Email:  martin.rushton@mca.govt.nz  
Web:  http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz