G/TBT/N/NZL/77  
 
8 March 2017  
(17-1378) 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 the Environment  
1 The Terrace, Central Wellington  
Wellington 6012, Wellington  
Tel.: +64 4 439 7400  
Fax: +64 4 439 7700  
E-mail: info@mfe.govt.nz   
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if a vailable) 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 a pplicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Personal care products 
containing microbeads that are rinsed off, for example body scrubs, facial cleaners, and 
toothpastes.  Pollution, pollution cont rol and conservation (ICS 13.020.40), Cosmetics. 
Toiletries (ICS 71.100.70) .  
Please refer to consultation document . 
5. Title, number of pages  and language(s)  of the notified document:  Managing 
microbeads in personal care products: Consultation document ( 23 pages, in English).  
6. Description of content:  The New Zealand Government is considering making regulations 
under section 23(1)(b) of the Waste Minimisation Act (WMA) 2008 to prohibit or control 
the manufacture and sale of personal care products contai ning microbeads in New 
Zealand.  
The proposal does not address controls around the importation or exportation of such 
products, nor does it consider regulation or controls of other products or sources of 
microplastics.  
The New Zealand Government proposes th at, should the proposed new regulations under 
the WMA be progressed through the necessary government process, they could enter into 
force in 2018.  
For comments received in response to this notification, the closing date for submissions, as 
specified in the  consultation document, is extended to 60 days from the date of this 
notification.  
7. Objective and rationale , including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable  Environmental protection, marine ecosystem ; Protection of animal or plant life 
or healt h. G/TBT/N/NZL/77  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:   
- Managing microbeads in personal care products: Consultation document  
- Waste Minimisation Act 2008  
9. Proposed date of adoption: To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force: Proposed to enter into force in 2018  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point  [X] or address, telephone and fax 
number s and e mail and website address es, if available , of other body:   
Ministry for the Environment  
1 The Terrace  
Central W ellington  
Wellington 6012  
Wellington  
Tel.: +64 4 439 7400  
Fax: +64 4 439 7700  
E-mail: info@mfe.govt.nz   
 
Managing microbeads in personal care products: Consultation document  
Waste Minimisation Act 2008  
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/waste/managing -microbeads -personal -care-products -
consultation -document   
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2008/0089/latest/DLM999802.html?src=qs