What is a group standard?
Group standards are approvals for a group of hazardous substances of a similar nature, type, hazard or use.
Each group standard sets out the conditions that enable a group of hazardous substances to be managed safely. All group standards require compliance with a suite of EPA Notices.
In addition, some group standards contain additional controls that also need to be complied with, that are specific to that particular group standard.
Most domestic and workplace chemicals (except for explosives, pesticides, timber treatment chemicals and vertebrate toxic agents) are approved under group standards.
Different types of products with different uses can be approved together under a single group standard. For example, the aerosol group standards include aerosol paints and aerosol cleaners.
Some notes on specific group standards
- The Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 has a separate group of schedules that need to be complied with.
- The Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) group standards are for notified toxic substances (NTS) that did not fit within the scope of any other group standard when group standards were first issued in 2006. They are closed group standards and cannot be used as an approval for any new hazardous substance.
- The Subsidiary Hazards group standards are for substances that have a lower level of hazard than the other group standard of the same group.
Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020 Schedules 4-8 (PDF, 4.1 MB)
Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) group standards
Subsidiary Hazards group standards (XLXS, 20 KB) - search 'Subsidiary'
Getting approval for a new substance
If a new hazardous substance being considered for approval fits the scope of an existing group standard, it is automatically deemed an approved substance.
If the new substance does not fit the scope of an existing group standard, an application for approval to import or manufacture that substance must be made. The application can be for:
- the substance
- a new group standard
- an amendment to a group standard to include the substance.
Make an application to get approval for a substance
Apply for a new group standard approval
Apply for an amendment to a group standard approval
Establishing a new group standard
A group standard is established by publishing a notice in the New Zealand Gazette following public notification and consultation.
Sets of group standards
2020 group standards
This is the current set of group standards that are now in force. They incorporate the GHS 7-based classification system that was implemented on 30 April 2021.
You can comply with any labelling, safety data sheet and packaging requirements that are in the old group standards until 30 April 2025. However, we strongly recommend updating to the new requirements as soon as possible.
See the full list of the 2020 group standards
Spreadsheet of the 2020 group standards 2020 (XLSX, 19.1KB)
Changes in the 2020 group standards
2017 group standards
These group standards have been superseded by the 2020 group standards. Note that any labelling, safety data sheet and packaging requirements in these superseded group standards remain valid until 30 April 2025. However, we strongly recommend updating to the new requirements as soon as possible.
List of the 2017 group standards
Pre-2017 group standards
These group standards have been superseded by the 2020 group standards. Note that any labelling, safety data sheet and packaging requirements in these superseded group standards remain valid until 30 April 2025. However, we strongly recommend updating to the new requirements as soon as possible.
Changes in the 2020 group standards
The following changes were made to the group standards in 2020.
- The names of group standards that used to have a HSNO classification in their name (for example Toxic 6.1, Toxic 6.7) were changed to refer to the GHS hazard class (for example acutely toxic, carcinogenic).
- The order of hazards in the names of some group standards was changed to reflect the order that hazards are listed in the GHS book.
- The names of “Gas under pressure mixtures” group standards were changed to “Gases under pressure mixtures”.
- The word “non-flammable” was inserted into the name of non-flammable aerosol group standards.
- The classification “aerosol Category 3” was added as a mandatory primary hazard to non-flammable aerosol group standards.
- The classification “aerosol Category 3” was added as a subsidiary hazard to the Cosmetic Products Group Standard 2020.
- The classification “metallic corrosive Category 1” was added as an optional primary hazard in all corrosive group standards.
- The four classifications for gases under pressure (“compressed gas,” “liquefied gas,” “refrigerated liquefied gas” and “dissolved gas”) were added as mandatory hazards to all gas under pressure mixtures group standards. It was also clarified that that these group standards apply to “gases under pressure” as defined in the Act.
- A sales restriction clause was added into the Gases under Pressure Mixtures (Flammable, Acutely Toxic, Corrosive) Group Standard 2020. This clause was accidentally omitted when this group standard was reissued in 2017. The specific wording of the clause is:
"a substance covered by this Group Standard must only be sold or supplied for use in a place of work where members of the public do not have access to the substance".
- The term “active ingredient” was replaced with the term “veterinary medicine active ingredient” in the three veterinary medicines group standards.
- Clause 8 of the Veterinary Medicines (Non-dispersive Closed System Application) Group Standard 2020 and the Veterinary Medicines (Non-dispersive Open System Application) Group Standard was reworded. The new wording of the clause is:
"This Group Standard excludes any veterinary medicine that contains a veterinary medicine active ingredient that—does not have an approval under section 28A or section 29 of the Act, or is not an ingredient in a veterinary medicine that has an approval under section 28A or section 29 of the Act."
- A cross-referencing error in clause 1(3) of Schedule 1 in the Dental Products (Subsidiary Hazard) Group Standard 2020 group standard was corrected.
Terrestrial hazard classifications
The following three classifications:
- "hazardous to soil organisms”
- “hazardous to terrestrial vertebrates”
- “hazardous to terrestrial invertebrates”
were added as subsidiary hazards to the following group standards:
- Active ingredients for use in the manufacture of agricultural compounds Group Standard 2020
- Veterinary medicines group standards
- Agricultural Compounds Special Circumstances Group Standard 2020
- Animal Nutritional and Animal Care Products Group Standard 2020
- Fertilisers group standards
- Additives, process chemicals and raw materials group standards.
The classification “designed for biocidal action” was added as a subsidiary hazard in the following group standards:
- Veterinary medicines group standards
- Agricultural Compounds Special Circumstances Group Standard 2020