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New Zealand Outlines Prohibition of Certain Products Containing Plastic

SafeGuardSHardgoodsFebruary 01, 2023

SG 12/23

New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment has made available a website to assist stakeholders with complying with the nation’s ban on certain plastic products. The portal also indicates plans to prohibit other PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging from mid-2025.

In March 2022, New Zealand issued the Waste Minimization (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 to prohibit six categories of plastic products. This prohibition became effective in October 2022 (SafeGuardS 100.22).

In November 2022, New Zealand issued its Waste Minimization (plastic and Related Products) Amendment Regulations 2022 to expand the scope of prohibited products and to create a list of products that can only be sold under specified exceptions. This amendment will become effective on July 1, 2023.

To assist stakeholders with the two aforementioned pieces of legislation, the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment has made available a website detailing the phasing out of hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics.

According to the website, New Zealand is also planning to phase out all other PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging from mid-2025. The authorities will provide more information on these proposed regulations from late-2023.

Highlights of the Waste Minimization (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 and its November 2022 amendment are summarized in Table 1.

LegislationScope of ProhibitionEffective Date
Waste Minimization (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 (2022/69)
  • Single-use plastic drink stirrers
  • Single-use plastic or synthetic cotton buds
  • Products containing plastic with pro-degradants (e.g. oxo and photodegradable plastics)
  • PVC food trays or containers (pre-formed trays used for produce, baked goods and meat)
  • Specified polystyrene packaging for food or drink:
    • Polystyrene takeaway food and drink packaging
    • Expanded polystyrene food and drink packaging
October 1, 2022
Waste Minimization (Plastic and Related Products) Amendment Regulations 2022 (2022/312)
  • Single-use plastic cutlery
  • Single-use plastic produce bags
  • Single-use plastic tableware
  • Plastic straws (supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitality businesses and health and disability services will still be able to provide plastic straws on request to people with a disability or health condition)
  • Plastic produce labels unless they are:
    1. Home compostable within the meaning of AS 5810-2010 and/or NF T51-800* or
    2. Used only for fruit or vegetables that are intended for export*
July 1, 2023

*Until July 1, 2025:

  • Plastic produce labels may be sold if they are used, or intended for use, on imported fruit and vegetables, and
  • A plastic produce label is considered home compostable if all of the plastic produce label except its adhesive is home compostable

Table 1

SGS technical experts have extensive knowledge and testing experience in materials and articles in contact with food. They work to ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials, paving the way for compliance. From overall migration tests to expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review, SGS is the partner to trust. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Discover more on our website. 

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