G/TBT/N/NZL/81  
 
15 May 2018  
(18-2907) 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 Primary Industries  
Pastoral House, 25 The Terrace  
PO Box 2526 Wellington 6140  
New Zealand  
Tel: +64 4 894 0100  
Email: info@mpi.govt.nz  
Website: www.mpi.govt.nz   
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 di fferent 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): Primary and 
processed organic products, including food and beverages, animal and plant products, live 
animals, and wool. Also consulting on inclusion of organic aquaculture products. Please 
refer to the consultation document.  
5. Title, number of pages and languag e(s) of the notified document: Discussion 
document: Would New Zealand benefit from new organic regulation? (29 page(s), in 
English)   
6. Description of content: The New Zealand Government is considering whether new 
regulations are needed for organic products sold in New Zealand. The Government is 
seeking feedback on whether a new organic standard should be voluntary or mandatory, 
and if a standard is mandatory, ho w should Government check that businesses meet the 
standard.  
If, following consultation, Government decides that a mandatory standard is needed, new 
primary legislation will need to be passed into law before a standard can be developed. 
The timeframe for s uch legislation is uncertain.  Once any needed legislation is passed, an 
organic standard would be developed and consulted on before it was finalised.   
For comments received in response to this notification, the closing date for submissions as 
specified in the discussion document is extended to 60 days from the date of this 
notification.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Consumer information, labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protec tion  G/TBT/N/NZL/81  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:  Discussion document: Would New Zealand benefit from new 
organic regulation? (29 pages, in English).   
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
Ministry for Primary Industries  
Pastoral House, 25  The Terrace  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
New Zealand  
Tel: +64 4 894 0100  
Fax: +64 4 894 0720  
Email: info@mpi.govt.nz  
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news -and-resources/consultations/proposed -changes -to-the-
way-organic -production -is-regulated/