Requirements by topic
| Topic | Requirement | Effective | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CosmeticsBan | Cosmetic products containing PFAS may not be imported into or manufactured in New Zealand. The amended group standard commenced January 1, 2026 and allows import and manufacture until December 31, 2026.The amendment commenced 1 January 2026. PFAS are listed in Schedule 4, Table 2, entry 2. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | Schedule 4, Table 2, entry 2; transitional clause 4(a) |
| CosmeticsBan | Cosmetic products containing PFAS may not be supplied in New Zealand. Supply is allowed until December 31, 2027, and remaining stock must be disposed of by June 30, 2028.All cosmetic products containing PFAS must be disposed of by 30 June 2028. | January 1, 2028 | Scheduled | Transitional clauses 4(b) and 5(2) |
| Firefighting foamBan | The Schedule 2A permission to use firefighting foam containing PFOA in installed systems for liquid fuel (Class B) fires expired, so PFOA foam is no longer a permitted use.Separate EPA group standard rules on PFAS firefighting foam are listed under the Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard entry. | December 3, 2025 | In force | HSNO Act Schedule 2A, PFOA entry (LI 2020/286) |
| Firefighting foamUse limit | Restricts the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS and sets conditions for handling the foams and their waste.Secondary sources report that uncontained use of PFOA foams had to end by the end of 2022 and contained use by December 2025, and that PFAS foam use after 2025 needs case-by-case EPA approval. They disagree on the exact contained-use date, and the standard's text on the EPA website could not be read. | December 18, 2020 | In force Secondary source | Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard 2021 (HSR002573) |
| Other named productsBan | PFOS, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride may not be imported or manufactured, except for laboratory research and certain approvals, and may be stored only as Schedule 2A or an EPA notice allows.The 2011 Order came into force 28 days after its Gazette notice of July 21, 2011. Its Schedule 2A row lists no permitted uses. | August 18, 2011 | In force | HSNO Act ss 25A and 25B; Schedule 2A, PFOS entry (2011/255) |
| Other named productsBan | PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds may not be imported or manufactured, except for laboratory research and certain approvals, and may be stored only as Schedule 2A allows.Schedule 2A permitted PFOA in photographic coatings on films and in firefighting foam for installed Class B systems until December 3, 2025. Articles containing PFOA that were in New Zealand on or before December 3, 2020 may still be used and stored, with no end date. | December 3, 2020 | In force | HSNO Act ss 25A and 25B; Schedule 2A, PFOA entry (LI 2020/286) |
| Other named productsBan | PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds may not be imported or manufactured, except for laboratory research and certain approvals, and may be stored only as Schedule 2A allows.The Schedule 2A entry sets no permitted uses. | October 5, 2023 | In force | HSNO Act ss 25A and 25B; Schedule 2A, PFHxS entry (SL 2023/233) |
| Other named productsBan | Import, manufacture, use and storage of long-chain PFCAs (C9 to C21), their salts and related compounds are prohibited, except as exempted.Based on secondary sources (SGS, Enviliance); the Order's text on the New Zealand legislation site could not be read. The sources disagree on whether it was made on September 7 or September 10, 2026. | December 16, 2026 | Scheduled Secondary source | HSNO Act Schedules 1AA and 2A, as amended in 2026 |
The instruments
New Zealand
Ban on PFAS in cosmetic products
- Citation
- Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 (HSR002552) as amended by the Cosmetic Products Group Standard (Amendment) Notice 2024, under sections 96B and 96C(3) of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
- Enacted by
- New Zealand Gazette notice 2024-sl388
- Enacted or adopted
- January 25, 2024
- Status
- In force
- Source
- https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-sl388
How it defines PFAS
any substance that contains at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF3-) or methylene (-CF2-) carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I attached to it)
Exemptions
- Substances containing only CF3-X or X-CF2-X' structural elements (as defined) are outside the PFAS definition
New Zealand
Ban on long-chain PFCAs under the HSNO Act
- Citation
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Schedules 1AA and 2A) Order 2026 (SL 2026/264), amending Schedules 1AA and 2A of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
- Enacted by
- Order in Council implementing the 2025 Stockholm Convention listing of long-chain PFCAs
- Status
- Enacted, not yet in effect
- Source
- https://www.sgs.com/en/news/2026/09/safeguards-13026-new-zealand-bans-three-pop-chemicals
How it defines PFAS
Perfluorocarboxylic acids with the formula CnF2n+1COOH where n is 8 to 20, their salts and related compounds, excluding PFOA.
Exemptions
- Semiconductor replacement parts until December 15, 2031.
- Replacement parts for vehicles no longer in mass production, and certain other replacement parts, until the end of their service life or December 31, 2040.
- Articles already in New Zealand on or before December 16, 2026, with no end date.
New Zealand
Persistent organic pollutant bans on PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS under the HSNO Act
- Citation
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, sections 25A and 25B and Schedule 2A, as amended by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Schedules 1AA and 2A) Order 2011 (2011/255), Order 2020 (LI 2020/286) and Order 2023 (SL 2023/233)
- Enacted by
- Orders in Council implementing Stockholm Convention listings
- Enacted or adopted
- July 18, 2011
- Last amended
- September 4, 2023
- Status
- In force
- Source
- https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/30/en/latest/
Exemptions
- Laboratory research and certain approvals under sections 29B, 30(a) and 30(ba) of the Act
- Articles containing PFOA that were in New Zealand on or before December 3, 2020, with no end date
New Zealand
PFAS foam restrictions in the Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard
- Citation
- Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard (Amendment) Notice 2020; Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard 2021 (HSR002573)
- Enacted by
- EPA group standard notice under the HSNO Act
- Enacted or adopted
- December 14, 2020
- Status
- In force
- Source
- https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2020-au5746
Timeline
- August 18, 2011 Took effect
PFOS, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride were added to Schedule 2A of the HSNO Act, the list of persistent organic pollutants that may not be imported or manufactured. Source - December 3, 2020 Took effect
PFOA, its salts and related compounds were added to Schedule 2A of the HSNO Act. Source - December 18, 2020 Rule
An EPA amendment to the Fire Fighting Chemicals Group Standard took effect, adding restrictions on firefighting foams containing PFAS and rules for foam waste. Source - October 5, 2023 Took effect
PFHxS, its salts and related compounds were added to Schedule 2A of the HSNO Act. Source - January 25, 2024 Enacted
EPA issued the Cosmetic Products Group Standard amendment adding a PFAS ban. Source - February 14, 2024 Update
The amendment notice was published in the New Zealand Gazette. Source - December 3, 2025 Took effect
The Schedule 2A permissions for PFOA in photographic film coatings and in installed Class B firefighting foam expired. Source - January 1, 2026 Took effect
The amendment came into force, starting the PFAS phase-out in cosmetics. Source - October 9, 2026 Rule
An Order adding long-chain PFCAs, their salts and related compounds to the HSNO Act's persistent organic pollutant schedules began taking effect in phases; import, manufacture, use and storage are prohibited from December 16, 2026 (reported by law firms). Source