General Standards
New Zealand Standards cover a wide variety of aspects such as safety, product quality, design, performance and specifications. The adoption of standards is generally voluntary, but can be made compulsory through a statutory note. Compliance with the established Standards represents an important factor in sales promotion and certification of products. New Zealand Standards use the identifier NZS.
New Zealand cooperates with many of its trading partners on reciprocal recognition and acceptance of standards. For example, the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement between New Zealand and Australia integrates both countries’ standards. This means that products sold in one country are permitted to be legally sold in the other, regardless of differences in standards or other sale-related requirements.
New Zealand also has an agreement with the EU - Mutual Recognition of Conformity Assessment (NZ/EU MRA) - for Conformité Européenne (CE) Marking. This agreement gives exporters the possibility to assess conformity (testing, inspection, and certification) with standards in their own country before the goods are shipped. At present, the NZ/EU MRA covers a limited number of product fields.
Standards organizations
The main national standards body of the country is Standards New Zealand, a unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Standards New Zealand represents the country in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The New Zealand Standards Council controls the development and adoption of standards. Compliance with standards is assured through product, service, quality, and environmental certification services. The Quality Assured Supplier Mark proves that a company is committed to quality.
In the agricultural sector there are several organizations that offer organic certification services. AsureQuality provides organic certification services such as independent testing, analysis, and quality assurance systems for farm, food, forestry, and plant products. Certificates issued by AsureQuality ensure access to the EU market. The AsureQuality Organic Standard is based on the international Codex Alinorm 99/22, EU Regulations and the Australian National Standard.
Conformity Assessment
Standards New Zealand is the body responsible for the conformity assessment of products and systems. The agency certifies conformance to particular standards.
Product Certification
New Zealand is recognized internationally as a certifying body.
Accreditation
The Joint Accreditation System - Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) represents the accreditation authority for ISO 9000 certifying bodies in New Zealand.
International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) is the national authority responsible for accrediting technical professional services. Its major role is the accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories and inspection bodies. The agency also accredits specific professional activities, including radiology
Contacts
Standards New Zealand
Website: https://www.standards.govt.nz/
Email: enquiries@standards.govt.nz
Address: Standards New Zealand, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011; P.O. Box 1473, Wellington 6140
Tel: +64 3 943 4259
International Accreditation New Zealand
Website: http://www.ianz.govt.nz
Email: info@ianz.govt.nz
Address: Level One, 626 Great South Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
Tel: +64 9 525 6655
