About us

We work to reduce significant risks and hazards that products may pose to New Zealand consumers by overseeing recalls, promoting safety and monitoring markets.

About product safety and recalls

We are a part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Hīkina Whakatutuki (MBIE). MBIE administers the product safety elements of the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act.

Our Minister has specific powers under the Fair Trading Act to:

  • Implement compulsory recalls.
  • Ban products with unsafe goods notices.
  • Set product safety standards.
  • Issue product safety policy statements.

Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs – Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Te Tari O Te Pirimia Me Te Komiti Matua(external link)

What we do

We oversee the safety of consumer products that are not food, medicines or road vehicles.

We work to reduce significant risks and hazards that these products may pose to New Zealand consumers by:

Promoting safety

We prepare advisory and guidance material and resources for consumers and businesses, to promote product safety.

Monitoring and market surveillance

We monitor emerging national and international product safety risks and issues, and implement appropriate responses. We analyse data, and give advice to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs about emerging product safety issues and the application of Minister’s Fair Trading Act powers.

Overseeing recalls

We publish product safety notices, and provide guidance on product safety recall notices.

Recalled products

Product recalls – information for consumers

Engaging with industry

We engage with industry, standards making bodies, injury prevention agencies and other regulators.

Implementing regulatory controls

Where necessary, we put regulatory controls in place to keep New Zealanders safe from risks posed by consumer products.

Making sure products are safe

What we don't do

The safety of food, medicines, energy and vehicle products are handled by other government agencies.

Product Agency Website
Food and supplements Ministry for Primary Industries www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/(external link)
Medicines and therapeutic products Medsafe (part of Ministry of Health) www.medsafe.govt.nz(external link) www.health.govt.nz(external link)
Road vehicles New Zealand Transport Agency www.nzta.govt.nz(external link)
Electrical and gas products Energy Safety (part of Worksafe) www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/energy-safety/(external link)
Products used in a workplace Worksafe www.worksafe.govt.nz(external link)
Hazardous substances and organisms Environmental Protection Authority www.epa.govt.nz(external link)
Products used in building and construction Building Performance (part of MBIE) www.building.govt.nz(external link)
Firearms New Zealand Police www.police.govt.nz(external link)

Advice on legal compliance or standards

We can't offer advice on legal compliance or standards. For guidance or advice about:

Enforcement

We provide policy advice and implement regulations for products under the Fair Trading Act. Enforcement is the responsibility of the: