G/TBT/N/NZL/103  
20 November 2020  
(20-8340) 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  
PO Box 10362  
Wellington 6143  
New Zealand  
www.mfe.govt.nz  
info@mfe.govt.nz   
Ph: +64 4 439 7400  
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:   
Standards New Zealand  
Ph +64 4 498 5990  
wto@standards.co.nz   
www.standards.govt.nz  
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):  Specific 
single -use plastic items  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Reducing the 
impact of plastic on our environment - moving away from hard -to-recycle  and single -use 
items: consultation document (75 page(s), in English)  
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/public ations/waste/reducing -impact -of-plastic -our-
environment -moving -away-from-hard-to-recycle -and-single -use-items   
6. Description of content:  This proposal includes seeking feedback on phasing out (by 
2025) problematic single -use plastic items where alternati ves are viable and available. 
Items included in this proposal are single -use plastic: straws, cotton buds, drink stirrers, 
tableware (plates, trays, bowls) and cutlery, produce bags, plastic cups and lids 
(excluding disposable coffee cups), and non -compost able fruit stickers. The list is based 
on a range of considerations including environmental harm, availability of alternatives, 
and international precedent.  
The proposed phase -out would apply to any person or entity (technically, any natural 
person or legal person) selling, manufacturing or distributing these items. The final 
regulations may apply to either sale or manufacture of the prescribed plastics, or bo th.  G/TBT/N/NZL/103  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of animal or plant life or health; Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
• Reducing the impact of plastic on our environment - moving away from hard -to-
recycle and single -use items: consultation document  
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/waste/reducing -impact -of-plastic -our-
environment -moving -away-from-hard-to-recycle -and-single -use-items  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Late 2021  
Proposed date of entry into force:  By January 2025  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/waste/reducing -impact -of-plastic -our-
environment -moving -away-from-hard-to-recycle -and-single -use-items