Unsafe goods notices
A list of products that are declared as unsafe and prohibited to supply in New Zealand.
How it works
The purpose of an unsafe goods notice is to prevent or reduce the risk of injury to any person.
Under section 31 of the Fair Trading Act 1986, the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs can declare goods to be unsafe by publishing a notice in the New Zealand Gazette.
New Zealand Gazette Te Kāhiti o Aotearoa(external link)
An unsafe goods notice remains in effect for 18 months, or until the Minister:
- revokes it
- replaces it, or
- makes it permanent.
To make the notice permanent, the Minister must consult with anyone who will be substantially affected by the proposed notice.
It's an offence to supply or import goods subject to an unsafe goods notice
Under the Fair Trading Act 1986, it's an offence to supply, advertise or offer to supply any goods that don't comply with an unsafe goods notice.
You can be fined up to $200,000 for any one individual, or up to $600,000 for a company.
All goods covered by an unsafe goods notice are prohibited imports under the Customs and Excise Act 1996. Import of unsafe goods is an offence, and the goods can be seized by Customs and forfeit.