News Details

On 7 September 2026, New Zealand approved amendments to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act) and its import and export controls on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These amendments add medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds (LC-PFCAs) to Schedules 1AA and 2A of the HSNO Act. The amendments also update Schedule 1 of the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No 2) 2004. The restrictions on MCCPs and LC-PFCAs will enter into force on 16 December 2026.

MCCPs are used in products including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), metalworking fluids, paints, adhesives and sealants. LC-PFCAs are a group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in electronic equipment, medical devices, food contact materials, coatings and firefighting foams, among other applications.

Restrictions and exemptions

The amendments prohibit the production and use of MCCPs and LC-PFCAs, subject to exemptions for specified uses. For MCCPs, these include certain flexible PVC products, adhesives and sealants, and metalworking fluids. Exemptions for LC-PFCAs include certain semiconductors and replacement parts. The amendments also address articles containing these chemicals that were already in New Zealand before the restrictions take effect. The conditions and end dates vary by exemption and are set out in the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Schedules 1AA and 2A) Order 2026. The separate Imports and Exports Amendment Order 2026 implements corresponding changes to New Zealand’s controls on the import and export of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Implementing the Stockholm Convention

The amendments implement decisions made at the 2025 Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. They prohibit the production and use of MCCPs and LC-PFCAs, subject to exemptions for specified uses and articles already in New Zealand.

New Zealand notified the adopted measures to the World Trade Organization on 16 September 2026.