New Zealand Proposes Reforms for Cosmetics Industry

In a progressive step to improve consumer safety and align with international standards, New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recently announced ambitious proposals to overhaul the cosmetics industry. These proposals come after the EPA received feedback from a range of stakeholders, including 20 submissions from industry players, representatives of industry groups, international organizations, government bodies, and individual submitters. 

The proposed changes cover a wide range of aspects within the cosmetics sector. In the following the key highlights of the EPA’s proposals and the areas where disagreements arose during the consultation process are listed. 

Proposed Changes: 

1. Aligning the definition of PFAS: The EPA proposes to align the definition of PFAS with the proposed rules in Europe while retaining the plan to phase out PFAS ingredients by December 31, 2025. 

2. Transition period: To address the concerns from the cosmetics industry, the proposed transition period for compliance with the new rules is extended to December 31, 2025, with an additional year for the sale of products. 

3. Scope and clarification of rules: The scope modifications remain unchanged, but the EPA has clarified its expectations concerning the simplicity of rules assignment to the Group Standard. 

4. Amendments to Schedules 4 to 8: Several changes are proposed, including the requirement to print the fluoride concentration on the label for fluoridated toothpastes, the retention of zinc pyrithione as a cosmetic ingredient, alterations in the presentation of the rules for specific ingredients, and alignment of the definition of maximum concentration with European standards. 

5. Exceptions for nanomaterials: Exceptions from the notification requirements for nanomaterials are proposed for ingredients already approved as colorants, preservatives, and UV filters, in order to reduce the burden on the industry. 

6. Additional proposals: The EPA also plans to phase out cosmetics containing PFAS by December 31, 2025, require compliance for products containing hazardous components, introduce clear record-keeping requirements for nanomaterials, update fragrance regulations, and consolidate the main text and Schedules 4 to 8 into a single document for improved usability. 

These proposed changes are designed to align New Zealand's cosmetics regulations with the evolving standards in the European Union (EU) and ensure a safer, more transparent industry. The transitional provisions have been carefully structured to allow the industry sufficient time to adapt to the forthcoming changes to the Group Standard.