Unsafe Goods Notices (Product Bans)

An Unsafe Goods Notice is the legal instrument by which a good or class of good is banned from supply under the Fair Trading Act.

Section 31 of the Fair Trading Act 1986 gives the Minister of Consumer Affairs the power to ban products by declaring them to be "unsafe goods" by a notice published in the New Zealand Gazette. This action can be taken "where it appears to the Minister that goods of any description or any class or classes of goods will or may cause injury to any person".

Length of time Notice stays in force

An Unsafe Goods Notice remains in force for up to 18 months and in effect bans the goods from being imported or supplied. At the end of the 18-month period a further order may be made prohibiting the supply of the goods indefinitely or for a specified period.

It is an offence under the Fair Trading Act 1986 to supply, or offer to supply, or advertise to supply any goods that are subject to an Unsafe Goods Notice. The Courts may impose fines of up to $60,000 for any one individual, or up to $200,000 for a company.

The Commerce Commission enforces an Unsafe Goods Notice. Complaints about products that are subject to an Unsafe Goods Notice should be referred to the relevant Commission office.

Current Unsafe Goods Notices (Product Bans)

To find out more detail about the current bans, visit the Current Unsafe Goods Notices page.

There are currently Unsafe Goods Notices for:

• Chainsaws without a chain brake
• Tian Mao Water Colour Paints Sets
• Lead in Children's Toys
• Hot water bottles
• Pistol crossbows without safety catches
• Candles with lead in the wicks and candlewicks containing lead.

Revoked Unsafe Goods Notices

• Toy pistol liquids with pH factors less than pH3 or greater than pH10
• Glitter bangles
• Disappearing ink with – with pH factors less than pH3 or greater than pH10

To find out more detail about these revoked unsafe goods notices, visit the Revoked Unsafe Goods page.