New Zealand’s New Rules for Electrical Products and the New Zealand EESS. What You Need to Know

If you’re involved in importing or supplying electrical equipment in New Zealand, following EESS New Zealand, you’ve probably heard about the new rules that were published in 2022 and will soon take effect.

These changes, introduced by WorkSafe New Zealand, are designed to ensure electrical products sold in New Zealand meet the specific New Zealand requirements.

This is happening because regulators need more tools to keep New Zealand consumers safe. For a very long time, New Zealand simply recognised products compliant with Australian rules, but this was determined to be insufficient for compliance and enforcement.

And if you’re familiar with Australia’s EESS, you’ll want to pay attention to the differences between the two countries’ requirements.

Let’s walk through the key points and compare New Zealand’s new rules with Australia’s rules at high level.

What are the New Rules for Electrical Products in New Zealand? Do they follow EESS New Zealand?

WorkSafe New Zealand’s new regulations, that will soon take effect, apply to high- and medium-risk electrical products (most electrical items you have at home and others).

The main requirements are summarised below:

1. Voltage Markings for Appliances

In New Zealand, electrical appliances must have the following voltage markings:

- Single-phase appliances must be marked with 230V or a voltage range including 230V.

- Three-phase appliances must be marked with 400V or a range including 400V.

2. Certification Requirements

In New Zealand, high risk electrical products will need a certificate. Such certificate can be issued by WorkSafe New Zealand, or a valid Australian certificate of conformity (EESS endorsed) or a valid Australian certificate of approval (NSW-endorsed).

3. Testing and Certification at the Right Voltage

New Zealand requires testing (not just an assessment) at 230V for single-phase and 400V for three-phase equipment.

This is a significant deviation from applicable requirements in Australia, which mandate that testing is normally done at 240V.

4. Fresh Test Reports

New Zealand mandates that test reports cannot be older than five years to be accepted for compliance. This is similar to what Australia requires, but without any kind of flexibility.

5. Specific link between test reports and models

Usually, the industry relies in similarity declarations to link local product model numbers with the model numbers in the report. This practice has been specifically outlawed by the new rules.

6. Responsible person in New Zealand

The new rules require importers to have a responsible person based in New Zealand, someone the regulators can contact in person.

If I have compliance with the RCM and EESS in Australia, do I comply with the rules in New Zealand?

The short answer is … no.

Especially above requirements 3 and 5 are not usually considered when doing product testing and certification for Australia. Therefore, having compliance with the RCM and EESS in Australia does not necessarily mean compliance with the new rules in New Zealand.

Is the Consumer Goods industry struggling with these requirements?

The short answer is … yes, unless they have the support of experts like GK Global Services. We can help you dealing with the new rules in New Zealand and the rules in Australia with ease.

We’ve helped many suppliers continue being compliant in both destinations.

Conclusion

Navigating the New Zealand new rules for electrical products may seem complex, especially with the differences from Australia’s requirements. But by understanding the specific needs of the EESS New Zealand system and ensuring your products are tested, certified, and correctly marked, you can avoid compliance issues and ensure safety.

If you’re unsure about meeting the EESS New Zealand standards, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help you stay compliant and keep your electrical products up to code!

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