New rules prohibiting the manufacturing of certain plastic products are to apply in New Zealand

New Zealand has in spring 2022 released the Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 that are a subject of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.  

The regulations' purpose is to ban the manufacture and sale of certain plastic products, in particular single-use plastics. The products that fall under the manufacturing and selling ban are:  

(a) plastic drink stirrers that are single use: 

(b) plastic or synthetic cotton buds that are single-use, unless they are used, or intended for use, — 

(i) as a medical device (as defined by section 3A of the Medicines Act 1981) that is not sold by retail; or 

(ii) in a veterinary clinic for diagnosis or sampling; or 

(iii) in a commercial food laboratory for food sampling; or 

(iv) in a laboratory for scientific investigation (even if they are first used for field sampling); or 

(v) as part of any kit or other material to test for any medical or scientific matter, including infection or immunity in an individual or animal, and to produce a result without analysis at a laboratory: 

(c) any product that contains plastic with pro-degradants: 

(d) PVC food trays or containers: 

(e) specified polystyrene packaging for food or drink. 

Please note that this even applies to plastics used to package a product that already has one layer of packaging.  

The Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 will be enforced from 1st October 2022.