[ Last Updated 11 July 2011 ]
Short Description
Describes the 2010 regulatory regime
High risk products
Under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 (Regulation 84) high risk products are referred to as Declared High Risk Articles. The list of High risk products is set by Gazette notice.
All high risk products must be formally approved, or covered by certification that is recognised as an equivalent to an approval (under Regulation 85 and 86) before being offered for sale, or sold in
New Zealand.
In the majority of cases the recognised certification relates to one of New Zealand’s Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) MRA and is implemented by Gazette notice.
Most high risk products are also “declared articles” in Australia. The Australian approvals systems (and associated certification) are recognised through Gazette notices and the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA). Most products lawfully saleable in Australia comply with the requirement of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, provided the associated documentation is available from the supplier.
Approvals and recognised certification are often conditional and normally valid for up to five years, but may be less. An approval can be obtained from Energy Safety for products that are not covered by a valid Australian approval or recognised certification, or certified in accordance with one of New Zealand’s EEE MRAs. An application for approval should be made on the applicable form and should be accompanied by a test report (Regulation 81) verifying compliance with the applicable Standard listed in Schedule 4 to the Regulations.
Products in the High risk category require evidence of approval or deemed equivalent certification.
Medium risk products
Under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 (Regulation 83) medium risk products are referred to as Declared Medium Risk Articles. The list of Medium risk products is set by a Gazette notice.
All medium risk products must be the subject of a SDoC. The form for this declaration has been aligned with the international format in ISO/IEC 17050.
The SDoC must be accompanied by a test report (or certificate of conformity) showing how the fitting or appliance complies with AS/NZS3820 or the applicable Standard listed in Schedule 4.
Schedule 4 of the Regulations introduces a list of the recognised Standards including any alternatives. Many of these Standards are IEC Standards with variations to reflect any specific New Zealand requirements such as language and voltage. This provides for a wider range of recognised and accredited testing facilities.
Most medium risk products are also “declared articles” in Australia. The Australian certification is recognised under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 to accompany the SDoC.
Under the transitional arrangements of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, any SDoC that were compliant with the Electricity Regulations 1997 remain valid until expiry and do not require an accompanying test report.
Declared Medium Risk Articles require:
SDOC
- A copy of a valid SDoC and supporting test report(s) must be produced within 10 days after being asked to do so
- The declaration must also be available to a consumer or purchaser.
Test Report
- The test reports are not required to be from an accredited test laboratory. However a fully accredited test report remains as the recognised bona fide means of demonstrating compliance. There is some flexibility for the actual Standards used.
Other products
All other electrical products sold in New Zealand are required to meet the fundamental safety provisions. Recognised Standards for all commonly available electrical products are listed in Schedule 4 of the Regulations. Where a specific standard is not available, then AS/NZ 3820 may be applied.
Evidence of Electrical Product Compliance
Test reports showing how a product complies with the applicable Standard and certified by a recognised test laboratory or certification to the same Standard, is recognised by the Regulations as bona fide proof of compliance with the safety fundamentals.
Many of the recognised Standards are variations of international Standards. The variations are required to meet New Zealand’s particular safety and “environmental” requirements and address such things as language, voltage, frequency and plugs.
The Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 by recognising test reports that demonstrate how a product complies with the recognised Standard permit the use of other Standards that are identical or have explicit relationships with the recognised Standards.
The recognised test laboratories or certification bodies include those established under New Zealand’s EEE MRAs.
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