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Selling cleaning products and detergents in New Zealand

In New Zealand, a cleaning product with hazardous properties is a hazardous substance under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. The Environmental Protection Authority approves and classifies it and sets the rules for its label, packaging, safety data sheet and disposal. Importers must work out whether HSNO applies. WorkSafe covers use at work.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Main law
HSNO Act 1996
Regulator
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
Classification
Globally Harmonised System, adopted 30 April 2021
Workplace use
WorkSafe, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Net quantity
Liquids by volume, in metric units

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does the product have hazardous properties that bring it under HSNO? Read more
  2. 2Does it have an HSNO approval, and how is it classified? Read more
  3. 3Do the label, packaging and safety data sheet meet the EPA's rules? Read more
  4. 4Is it an aerosol containing an ozone depleting substance? Read more
  5. 5Is the net quantity marked correctly? Read more
  6. 6If something goes wrong with the cap or the label, who recalls it? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Hazardous substances under HSNO

When a cleaning product is a hazardous substance, and who approves it.

  • Under HSNO, a hazardous substance is one with explosive, flammable, oxidising, corrosive, toxic or ecotoxic properties.
  • HSNO covers pure chemicals and products, however they are packaged or presented.
  • The EPA receives applications to import or manufacture new hazardous substances, assesses the risks and decides whether they are approved for use in New Zealand, and classifies them.
  • The obligation is on importers to establish whether the substances they import fall within HSNO; if in doubt, they contact the EPA.
  • The EPA enforces that importers and manufacturers have HSNO approvals for their substances.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each product's HSNO approval and classification with its formula and supplier documents. Ask about this

Labels, packaging and safety data sheets

The EPA's rules for what goes on and with the product.

  • The EPA sets the rules for classification, labelling, safety data sheets, packaging and disposal of hazardous substances, through EPA Notices.
  • The EPA enforces that importers and manufacturers supply the right label, packaging and safety data sheet.
  • New Zealand adopted the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) on 30 April 2021, giving importers, manufacturers and suppliers four years to update labels, safety data sheets and packaging.
  • WorkSafe enforces the downstream use, storage and handling of hazardous substances in workplaces under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and the ecotoxic and disposal requirements there under HSNO.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your label and safety data sheet against the classification on file and shows which documents need updating. Ask about this

Import controls

Border rules for chemicals and aerosols.

  • New Zealand has strict controls on the import of a wide range of hazardous substances.
  • Approval from the EPA under the Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996 is needed to import aerosol sprays containing listed CFCs, HCFCs, HBFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide or methyl chloroforms.
  • Persistent organic pollutants covered by the Stockholm Convention need the EPA's prior approval to import.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps propellant and composition declarations from suppliers with each product, dated. Ask about this

Net quantity and claims

Weights and measures and fair trading rules for packaged goods.

  • Packaged goods sold by quantity are marked in metric units, such as washing liquid by millilitres or litres, at least 2 mm high and near the name.
  • Packages must contain at least the stated net quantity, excluding packaging.
  • Under the Fair Trading Act a business needs reasonable grounds for a claim, such as a performance or environmental claim, when it makes it.

How we help: Compliant Always checks the quantity statement on your artwork and keeps the evidence behind each claim. Ask about this

Safety and recalls

When a product or its packaging puts people at risk.

  • MBIE gives as an example of a packaging problem that may need a recall a household cleaner cap that does not fit properly and can be easily opened by children, or labelling that omits vital safety information.
  • A business leading a product safety recall notifies MBIE within 2 working days of it being made public, unless the recall falls under other legislation and another agency.
  • Hazardous substances sit with the EPA among the agencies that look after product safety.

How we help: Compliant Always ties each batch to its packaging and label version, so the scope of a recall can be read from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ImporterEstablishing whether HSNO applies, the approval, and the right label, packaging and safety data sheet.Suppliers' formulas and safety data sheets read and dated before the goods arrive.
ManufacturerThe HSNO approval and classification of what it makes, and the stated net quantity.Formulas, classifications and fill records kept by product and lot.
BrandThe label and the claims made for the product.Label and claims checked against the classification and the evidence.
Workplace customerSafe use, storage and handling under WorkSafe's rules.Current safety data sheets ready when a customer asks.

Questions businesses ask

Are cleaning products regulated as hazardous substances in New Zealand?
Where they have explosive, flammable, oxidising, corrosive, toxic or ecotoxic properties, yes: they are hazardous substances under the HSNO Act 1996, regulated by the Environmental Protection Authority.
Who approves hazardous cleaning products in New Zealand?
The Environmental Protection Authority, which assesses applications to import or manufacture hazardous substances, decides whether they are approved for use, and classifies them.
Who sets labelling rules for cleaning chemicals in New Zealand?
The EPA sets the rules for labels, safety data sheets, packaging and disposal of hazardous substances, and enforces them against importers and manufacturers.
Does New Zealand use GHS labelling?
Yes. New Zealand adopted the Globally Harmonised System for hazardous substances under HSNO on 30 April 2021, with four years for suppliers to update labels, safety data sheets and packaging.
Do I need to check whether my imported cleaner is a hazardous substance?
Yes. Customs says the obligation is on importers to establish whether the substances they import fall within HSNO, and to contact the EPA if in doubt.
Can I import aerosol cleaners into New Zealand?
Aerosol sprays containing listed ozone depleting substances, such as certain CFCs, HCFCs or halons, need EPA approval under the Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996 before import.
Who regulates cleaning chemicals used at work?
WorkSafe, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, for use, storage and handling in workplaces. WorkSafe also enforces HSNO's ecotoxic and disposal requirements in the workplace.
When should a cleaning product be recalled?
MBIE's examples include a cap that does not fit properly and can be opened by children, or a label that omits vital safety information. The business leading a product safety recall notifies MBIE within 2 working days.
How should the quantity be shown on a bottle of detergent?
By volume in metric units, such as millilitres or litres, in a prominent position near the name, at least 2 mm high.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in New Zealand?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the Food Standards Code New Zealand shares with Australia. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in New Zealand and what your paperwork needs to show.

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