. /. WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/TBT/N/NZL/65 
7 November 2012  
 (12-6132) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  NEW ZEALAND  
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:   
Consumer Affairs 
Measurement and Produc t Safety Service 
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Empl oyment (formerly Ministry of Economic 
Development) P.O. Box:  1473 Wellington, New Zealand Phone:  +64-4-462 4222 Fax:  +64-4-473 9400 
Email:  mailto:martin.rus hton@mca.govt.nz   
Website:  http://www.consumeraffairs.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 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):  2 under tariff code 
7616.99.90.29E  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Unsafe Goods 
(Multipurpose ladders) Notice 2012.  Made unde r section 31 of the Fair Trading Act 1986.  
(2 pages, in English).     
6. Description of content:  The effect of the Unsafe Goods No tice is to declar e certain goods, 
namely multipurpose ladders which do not comply  with all relevant parts of AS/NZS 1892 
Portable ladders, to be unsa fe goods and prohibited for supply in New Zealand for a period of 
18 months.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Multipurpose ladders were investigated follo wing reports of injuries caused by them 
collapsing while in use.   Samp les tested were found to be un able to support the advertised 
load and unable to support an average user.  The resulting evidence s hows that these products 
may present an immediate and unacceptable ri sk to users.  Falls from height cost New 
Zealand $24 million a year.  From 2007 to 2009 there were 340 serious harm accidents from 
falls in the construction sector.  Almost 7,000 people were injured usi ng ladders in and around G/TBT/N/NZL/65 
Page 2  
 
  their home last year, with on average, over 130 people injure d each week using a ladder at 
home. Over 70% of last year's ladder injuries  at home involved a fall and more than 50 per 
cent of falls working at height are from less th an 3 metres.  (Sources: ACC, Department of 
Labour.)  Advice from ladder manufacturers, importers and retailer s who were consulted 
during the development of the notice was that th ey strongly support this measure.  The Unsafe 
Goods Notice is an interi m measure pending further investiga tion which is expected to result 
in regulation of all types of ladders.  
8. Relevant documents:   Unsafe Goods (Multipurpo se ladders) Notice 2012.   
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   The notice will come into effect on the date of 
publication in the New Zealand Gazette.  
Anticipated 8 November 2012   
10. Final date for comments:  Not applicable - Consumer Af fairs may be contacted with 
questions or comments at any time. 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addres ses, if available of the other body:    
Consumer Affairs 
Measurement and Produc t Safety Service 
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Empl oyment (formerly Ministry of Economic 
Development) 
P.O. Box:  1473 
Wellington, New Zealand Phone:  +64-4-462 4222 Fax:  +64-4-473 9400 Email:  mailto:martin.rus hton@mca.govt.nz  
Website:  http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/