Paint (under heading 3208 and 3209) Graphic materials (under heading 9608 and 9609)

Graphic Materials Group Standard amendment – consultation document – APP205008; (35 page(s), in English)

The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is proposing to amend the Graphic Materials Group Standard 2020:

1.    We propose to amend the definition of child for the purposes of the group standard (from 0 to 12 years) to 0 to up to 8 years.

2.    We propose to amend the definition of graphic materials in the group standard to exclude negligible risk items such as pens and pencils, so these graphic materials are no longer regulated under HSNO.

3.    We propose to amend the wording in the scope (clause 4) to explicitly state that the group standard applies to products that do not trigger a hazard classification but contain one or more hazardous ingredients.

4.    We propose that a substance can be assigned to the group standard if it is classified for a human health hazard in New Zealand only because New Zealand uses lower GHS cut-off thresholds for mixtures. This would only apply where the same substance would not be classified by recognised international regulators

5.    We propose that graphic materials that trigger a hazard classification in New Zealand only because New Zealand applies lower GHS cut-off thresholds for mixtures are exempt from complying with the Labelling Notice, where the same materials would not be classified by recognised international regulators.

We propose that graphic materials that trigger a hazard classification in New Zealand only because New Zealand applies lower GHS cut-off thresholds for mixtures are exempt from complying with the SDS Notice, where the same materials would not be classified by recognised international regulators.