. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/NZL/35 
25 July 2007 
 (07-3186) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   NEW ZEALAND
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:    
Ministry of Consumer Affairs 
PO Box 1473 Wellington New Zealand 
Fax: +(64) 4 474 2927 
E-mail: wel@mca.govt.nz 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
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 [  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):    
• Showers as specified in AS/NZS 3662 
• Dishwashers as specified in AS/NZS 2007.2 
• Clothes Washing Machines as specified in AS/NZS 2040.2 
• Lavatory Equipment is that listed in AS 1172.1, AS 1172.2, ATS 5200.020, ATS 
5200.021, and ATS 5200.030 
• Urinal Equipment as specified in AS/NZS 3982 or ATS 5200.004 
• Tap Equipment as specified in AS/NZS 3718* 
*Does not apply to any tap or tap outlet that is solely for use over a bath, or part of an 
appliance such as a chilled or boiling water dispenser. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposed 
Implementation of Mandatory Water Efficien cy Labelling (20 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:   This document puts forward the proposal to require mandatory 
water efficiency labelling of the six listed pr oducts, when the products are made available 
for sale, lease, hire or hire purchase in New Zealand.  Much of the proposal has been 
adapted from Australian/New Zealand Standard 6400 (water efficient products – Rating and 
Labelling). 
The document discusses issues around the legal basis for introduction of the proposed 
regulations, product testing, the format of the label, the placement of the label, 
determination of star ratings (a comparative measure of water efficiency), and testing and labelling of items intended for use in low pressure supply situations. G/TBT/N/NZL/35 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Mandatory water efficiency labelling would requi re selected domestic water-using products 
to be labelled with information that could be used to compare the re lative water efficiency 
of available models.  Due to individual fi nancial savings and e nvironmental benefits, 
consumers are expected to alter their purch asing behaviour with the ultimate consequence 
of decreasing water consumption. 
In New Zealand there are regional differences in  the supply and demand of water with some 
regions experiencing water shortages, particul arly in dry summers.  However, throughout 
the country there are significant limits in the capacity of the existing infrastructure (water 
supply, and wastewater carriage and distribution) to meet projected future demand.  In 
addition to benefits from saving water, there ar e additional benefits of savings in energy 
costs from reductions in water consumption, b ecause of the reduced requirement for water 
heating. 
8. Relevant documents:   Joint Australian/New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 6400, AS/NZS 
3662, AS/NZS 2007.2, AS/NZS 2040.2, AS/NZS 3982 and AS/NZS 3718; Australian Technical Standards ATS 5200.020, ATS 5200.021, ATS 5200.030 and ATS 5200.004; and Australian Standards AS 1172.1, AS 1172.2 and AS 3982.  
These Standards are available for purchase at normal prices from Standards New Zealand at 
http://www.standards.co.nz 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
 
 Proposed date of entry into force:    Notification to Government anticipated in later 
2007 with adoption (gazettal) to follow, pending Government consideration. 
1 July 2008 
10. Final date for comments:   60 days from date of notification 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
A Discussion Document is available from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs website: 
http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/poli cylawresearch/water-eff-label/discussion-
document/index.html