Oceania · New Zealand

What does it take to sell cosmetics in New Zealand? Entry route, responsibility, labeling

None: no pre-market notification or registration, but products must comply with the Group…; Responsible person: No statutory responsible person, but the New Zealand import…; Labeling: English label with product name, full ingredient ….

Latest change 2026-01-01 — The amended Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 applies: schedules aligned to the EU, PFAS added to the prohibited list (manufacture/import banned from 2027-01-01, sale from 2028-01-01, disposal by 2028-07-01), nanomaterial record-keeping and revised labelling incl. 'contains/releases formaldehyde' warnings. Source

Factory-side digest; the official text prevails; not legal advice.

Authority: Environmental Protection Authority (EPA); Commerce Commission for Fair Trading Act claims; Medsafe for therapeutic products
Main regulation: Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 (HSNO group standard), amended by EPA decision APP204297 of 2024-01-30 · Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
In force: 2020
Market entry: None: no pre-market notification or registration, but products must comply with the Group Standard (ingredients, labelling, packaging) from the day they are imported or made.
Responsible person: No statutory responsible person, but the New Zealand importer or manufacturer is legally responsible and its NZ physical address must appear on the label.
Safety file: No PIF required; the importer/manufacturer must hold evidence of compliance with the Group Standard (formulation checked against the schedules, nanomaterial records) for the EPA on request.
Labeling: English label with product name, full ingredient list (INCI, descending order), batch code, NZ importer/manufacturer address, nano ingredients flagged and required warnings; hazardous formulations also need HSNO hazard labelling.
Animal testing: Animal testing of cosmetics or cosmetic-only ingredients in New Zealand banned since 2015 (Animal Welfare Act s.84A); imported animal-tested products are not banned.
Ingredient lists: Group Standard schedules for prohibited components (Schedule 4, incl. PFAS in Table 2), restricted components, permitted colourants, preservatives and UV filters, aligned to EU Regulation 1223/2009 annexes.
Notes: The original 2020 commencement month and the exact schedule numbering were not verified.
Official text: https://www.epa.govt.nz/industry-areas/hazardous-substances/rules-for-hazardous-substances/group-standards/cosmetic-products/

FAQ

Does New Zealand require notification or registration before sale?

None: no pre-market notification or registration, but products must comply with the Group Standard (ingredients, labelling, packaging) from the day they are imported or made.

Is a local responsible person mandatory in New Zealand?

No statutory responsible person, but the New Zealand importer or manufacturer is legally responsible and its NZ physical address must appear on the label.

What are the labeling requirements in New Zealand?

English label with product name, full ingredient list (INCI, descending order), batch code, NZ importer/manufacturer address, nano ingredients flagged and required warnings; hazardous formulations also need HSNO hazard labelling.

What changed recently in New Zealand cosmetic regulation?

2026-01-01 The amended Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 applies: schedules aligned to the EU, PFAS added to the prohibited list (manufacture/import banned from 2027-01-01, sale from 2028-01-01, disposal by 2028-07-01), nanomaterial record-keeping and revised labelling incl. 'contains/releases formaldehyde' warnings.

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What does it take to sell cosmetics in New Zealand? Entry route, responsibility, labeling

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