Celebrating 25 Years of Scoop
Bill to strengthen New Zealand’s standards system
Hon Paul Goldsmith
Minister of Commerce
and Consumer Affairs
15 October 2015
Bill to strengthen New Zealand’s standards system passed into law
A Bill that will strengthen New Zealand’s standards and accreditation system has passed its final reading in Parliament today, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
The Standards and Accreditation Bill aims to ensure that the New Zealand’s standards and accreditation system is viable, well-functioning, and meets the needs of business, regulators, and consumers into the future.
“Standards support key government priorities such as economic growth, international trade, innovation and health and safety. This new legislation will help increase the contribution standards make in these areas,” Mr Goldsmith says.
The Bill follows a 2012 review of New Zealand’s standards regime which found the Standards Council was not financially sustainable in the medium to long term and there was a need to improve the current arrangements for delivering standards to users.
“It’s important to emphasise that the development and approval of standards in New Zealand will remain independent which is why this Bill creates an independent Standards Approval Board and a Standards Executive,” Mr Goldsmith says.
Key aspects of the Bill include:
• Establishing a new independent statutory board to
approve New Zealand Standards and membership of Standards
development committees, and an independent Statutory
Officer.
• Retaining and strengthening key elements of
the current arrangements, such as codifying in legislation
the role of technical experts in developing
Standards
• Locating the Standards development
function in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment ensuring closer alignment with government
objectives such as economic growth, international trade,
innovation and health and safety
• Strengthening the
existing cost recovery arrangements, by providing for full
lifecycle costing of Standards and improved access to
Standards.
The Bill also updates arrangements for accreditation in New Zealand to ensure they remain relevant to the needs of exporters and key domestic service providers.
The arrangements for accreditation will come into force immediately.
New arrangements for standards will come into force within 6 months, once the Standards Approval Board has been appointed.
ENDS
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