New Cosmetic Regulations in New Zealand Effective from 1 January 2026

On January 21, 2026, the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced that the updated rules for importing and manufacturing cosmetic products had come into effect on 1 January 2026.

In New Zealand, cosmetics include soap, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving products, deodorant, perfume, hair dye, insect repellent, sunscreen, self-tanning products, lipstick, and make-up such as foundation and eye shadow. All cosmetic products that contain a hazardous ingredient must comply with the updated rules for cosmetics (some changes take effect later).

Summary of the changes

The main changes include:

increase the scope of the group standard to include non-hazardous cosmetic products that contain a hazardous substance,
update the schedules of prohibited, restricted and allowed ingredients,
phase out PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) ingredients,
update to the nanomaterial record keeping requirements,
extension to the phase out of sunscreen using more than 10% of the UV filter homosalate.

Interpretation of the updated rules for cosmetics

New cosmetic products group standard now in place

In January 2024, the Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 for importing and manufacturing cosmetics has been updated. This group standard sets the hazardous substances rules for cosmetic products. The updated group standard came into effect on 1 January 2026. Some of its changes take effect later, up until April 2029.

Further information related to the Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020:

Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 (consolidated and current)

Tracked-changes version of the updated group standard

Also, the scope of the group standard has been expanded to require any cosmetic product that contains a hazardous ingredient to comply, even if the final product is not hazardous.

Updates to prohibited, restricted and allowed ingredients

Schedules 4-8 list specific rules for ingredients used in cosmetics. Changes have been made to these schedules to align with rules in Europe.

Schedule 4-Prohibited ingredients (you must not use these ingredients)
Schedule 5-Restricted ingredients (there are extra rules for these ingredients)
Schedule 6-Allowed colourants
Schedule 7-Allowed preservatives
Schedule 8-Allowed UV filters

Other changes that come into effect later

Suppliers and retailers must not sell non-compliant cosmetic products

If the changes to the group standard mean a cosmetic product no longer complies with rules, then suppliers and retailers must stop selling that product. The dates when different products can no longer be sold in the table below.

Everyone must dispose of non-compliant cosmetic products

If the changes to the group standard mean a cosmetic product no longer complies with rules, everyone must dispose of non-compliant products. The disposal dates for different products can also be found in the table below.

PFAS ingredients are being phased out

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are being phased out from use in cosmetic products in Aotearoa New Zealand. PFAS has been added to Schedule 4, Table 2 of the group standard. The transition periods for cosmetics containing PFAS ingredients can be found in the table below and in the updated group standard.

Homosalate phase-out deadline extended

On 25 October 2025, the group standard decision has been amended to extend the phase-out deadline for products containing more than 10% of the UV filter homosalate. Cosmetic products containing more than 10% of the UV filter homosalate must be disposed before 1 April 2029.

Timings for the changes

Date of change	Summary of who needs to do what
1 January 2026	Importers and manufacturers of cosmetic products must ensure that the products they import or manufacture comply with the new rules by 1 January 2026.
1 January 2027	Suppliers and retailers of cosmetic products must not sell cosmetic products that don’t comply with the new rules after 1 January 2027, even if they complied with a previous version of the group standard.
1 January 2027	Importers and manufacturers of cosmetic products must not import or manufacture cosmetic products containing PFAS ingredients from 1 January 2027.
30 June 2027	Everyone with cosmetic products that do not comply with the new rules must dispose of them by 30 June 2027.
1 July 2027	Importers and manufacturers of cosmetic products must not import or manufacture any cosmetics containing more than 10% of the UV filter homosalate from 1 July 2027.
1 January 2028	Suppliers and retailers of cosmetic products containing PFAS ingredients must not sell these products from 1 January 2028.
30 June 2028	Everyone with cosmetic products containing PFAS ingredients must dispose of them by 30 June 2028.
1 July 2028	Suppliers and retailers of cosmetics products must not sell cosmetics products containing more than 10% of the UV filter homosalate from 1 July 2028.
1 April 2029	Everyone with cosmetic products containing more than 10% of the UV filter homosalate must dispose of them before 1 April 2029.

Our Global Compliance Services

[Regulatory Compliance Services]

China: Compliance Consulting for Cosmetics and Ingredients
International: Compliance Consulting for Cosmetics (EU, US, Japan, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand, ASEAN, Middle East, Mexico, Brazil, Africa)
China and International Compliance Consulting for Disinfectants and Household Products

[Data Services]

China: Cosmetics and Ingredients Data Services (China CosIng)
International: Cosmetics and Ingredients Data Services covering China (including Taiwan, China), EU, North America, ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea (Global CosIng)

[Product Testing Services]

Cosmetic Safety and Human Efficacy Testing
Toxicological Safety Assessment for Cosmetic Ingredients
In Vitro Efficacy Testing for Cosmetics and Ingredients

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

Further Information

New Zealand EPA

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