There are currently six product safety standard regulations. They are for:
- baby walkers;
- children's nightwear;
- children's toys;
- household cots;
- cigarette lighters; and
- pedal bicycles.
Product safety standard regulations may cover:
- the nature of the product and its performance - for example, composition, contents, manufacture, processing, design, construction, finish or packaging;
- tests the product should go through during or after manufacture; and
- the form and content of any markings, warnings or instructions on the product.
It is a breach of the Act to fail to comply with the requirements of any product safety standard regulations.
The full product safety standard regulations are available from selected bookshops or on the New Zealand Legislation website. Any relevant standards referred to in the regulations can be purchased from Standards New Zealand by calling 0800 STANDARDS (0800 735 656) or via its website.
The factsheets are only guidelines and do not include the detail that is contained in the related standards and regulations.
Unsafe goods notices
Importing, supplying or advertising goods declared by the Minister of Consumer Affairs to be unsafe is an offence under the Fair Trading Act. The Minister may declare any goods unsafe where it appears they may cause injury.
Baby Walkers
Baby walkers allow children a greater range of movement and speed than they normally would have. This product safety standard aims to minimise the risk of injury associated with children using baby walkers, for example, from falling down stairs or from tipping over.
Children's Nightwear
This product safety standard aims to ensure that all clothing that is suitable for children to wear at night is either designed to reduce fire danger or is made of fabric that is less likely to burn.
Children's Toys
Most children under the age of 36 months do not have a developed coughing reflex. This Product Safety Standard aims to reduce the risk of injury or death to young children by ensuring that toys intended for their use are not so small, or do not have parts so small, that they could be swallowed or ingested causing choking.
Household Cots
This Product Safety Standard sets out requirements and tests for materials, design, construction, performance and labelling of household cots. The aim is to reduce the risk of injury or death to infants and babies from the use of unsafe cots.
Cigarette Lighters
These product safety standards aim to prevent deaths and serious injuries, as well as property damage and loss, caused by fires from lighter failures or from children playing with lighters.
Pedal Bicycles
This Product Safety Standard aims to minimise the risk of injury to people through accidents caused by a failure in a bicycle's structure or parts, poor assembly, or lack of warnings about safety issues.
