New Zealand: Cabinet paper removing barriers to overseas building products

 

New Zealand is planning to reduce trade barriers for construction products coming from overseas.

It has recently published a document wich includes the Cabinet paper (and appendices) seeking policy approval for a package of changes to the Building Act 2004 to remove barriers in the building consent system.

This package of changes to the Building Act 2004 are to:

• Make it easier to use products from overseas;
• Streamline citing of international standards; and
• Mandate acceptance of certain overseas building products.

To facilitate the use of overseas products, amendments to the Building Act 2004 will allow the New Zealand Minister for Building and Construction to recognise building product standards from international standards organisations and certifications from standard certification schemes. This recognition will be formalized through a Gazette notice, and criteria for recognition will be established via regulation.

The proposed changes will also streamline the adoption of international standards and introduce a new regulatory instrument: the Building Product Specification. This specification will compile all building product standards and specifications that demonstrate compliance with the New Zealand Building Code. Existing standards and specifications cited in acceptable solutions and verification methods will be transferred into the Building Product Specification.

Additionally, the changes will empower the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to specify building product certification schemes and certifications that must be considered as demonstrating compliance with the New Zealand Building Code. This will also be formalized through a Gazette notice, with criteria for specification established by regulation.

To find out more about compliance for construction products, please contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.