TRADING STANDARDS MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION & EMPLOYMENT HTKINA WHAKATUTUKI. New Zealand Government

Transcription

1 TRADING STANDARDS MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION & EMPLOYMENT HTKINA WHAKATUTUKI New Zealand Government

2 Who we are Trading Standards is a leading regulator responsible for protecting New Zealand consumers by keeping our marketplace free from unsafe and non-compliant products and services. Our mission is to help grow New Zealand for all, by ensuring New Zealanders have safe products, accurate measurement and quality motor vehicle fuel. We also register Auctioneers, Motor Vehicles Traders and Independently Qualified Pool Inspectors. Trading Standards is an operational unit in the Consumer Protection and Standards branch of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. tradingstandards.mbie.govt.nz

3 What we do Trading Standards has six areas of responsibility: We ensure New Zealanders have safe products, accurate measurement and quality fuel. Trade Measurement (accurate weights and measures for trade) Fuel Quality Monitoring Consumer Product Safety We also administer and maintain three occupational licencing registers. Auctioneers Motor Vehicle Traders Independently Qualified Pool Inspectors Our work in these six areas aims to: protect consumers and keep them safe build consumer and business confidence provide a level playing field for business support domestic and international trade

4 Trade Measurement (Accurate weights and measures for trade) Trading Standards administers and enforces New Zealand s system of trade measurement (also known as legal metrology), making sure that weighing and measuring equipment and the quantity in packaged goods is accurate. Effective trade needs transparency and a balance of information and trust between traders and consumers. The work of Trading Standards provides important controls needed for accurate measurement that support domestic and international trade. Our work in more detail In the Trade Measurement area, Trading Standards: Administers and enforces the Weights and Measures Act and Regulations ensuring that they are consistent with international best practice. Facilitates trade by maintaining strong national and international connections with: Standards, Accreditation and Metrology Group Measurement Standards Laboratory National Measurement Institute (Australia) International Organisation of Legal Metrology ( Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum ( Accredits private sector companies and individuals (known as Accredited Persons ) to test and confirm that accuracy of weighing and measuring equipment. Encourages businesses to comply with legislation when weighing and measuring or packaging goods, by using market surveillance and enforcement. Provides metrology laboratory services to make sure physical standards used by trade and industry to test weighing and measuring equipment are accurate. These laboratories are accredited to ISO and their work provides a direct link to international standards. Approves all weighing and measuring equipment before it is used by traders to make sure the equipment produces accurate results. Investigates and responds to complaints and enquiries from consumers and businesses. Advises businesses and industry about weighing and measuring processes and techniques that make sure measurement is accurate. MEASUREMENT ACCURACY (Behind the scenes) EFFECTIVE TRADE (in the marketplace) CONSUMERS Law (Weights and Measures Act) Internationally accepted test methods Accurate physical standards used to test instruments Internationally agreed Units of Measurement (kilogram, litre, metre) New Zealand physical standards linked to international standards All measuring equipment used for trade is approved Consumer confidence in measurements Training /education for business and industry Accredited Persons confirm accuracy of weighing and measuring equipment Enforcement and surveillance of the marketplace and Accredited Persons BUSINESS

5 Fuel Quality Monitoring Our work in more detail Trading Standards maintain and administer the Fuel Quality Monitoring Programme. This programme monitors the quality of retail fuel in New Zealand and makes sure it complies with specifications set out in the Engine Fuel Specifications Regulations. Statistical sampling is used to detect non-compliance. The Regulations specify limits on a number of critical properties for premium and regular petrol grades, diesel, and biofuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. Because the main focus of the Programme is to sample and test the quality of fuels as they are sold to consumers, sampling is done from dispenser nozzles at the point of sale. In the motor vehicle Fuel Quality area, Trading Standards: Tests fuel samples for statistical sampling, targeted projects or in response to emerging issues. Responds to consumer and trader complaints and enquiries. Develops projects in response to emerging issues. Contributes to work on regular amendments to the Engine Fuel Specifications Regulations. Maintains strong and effective relationships (as regulator) with fuel company technical managers. TRADING STANDARDS

6 Consumer Product Safety Trading Standards oversees consumer product safety in New Zealand. We regulate the safety of a wide range of consumer products, excluding food, medicines, energy or vehicle products (which are handled by other government agencies). Our work includes investigating national and international emerging product safety issues. We also work to reduce significant risks and hazards that products may pose to New Zealand consumers. The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has specific powers (under the Fair Trading Act) to implement mandatory recalls, ban products with Unsafe Goods Notices, and set Product Safety Standards. These measures are enforceable by the Commerce Commission and New Zealand Customs. Our work in more detail In the Consumer Product Safety area, Trading Standards: Investigates and analyses data, and gives advice to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs about emerging product safety issues and the application of Minister s Fair Trading Act powers. Maintains strong national and international stakeholder relationships with organisations such as: safety regulators Ministry of Health, Commerce Commission, Environmental Protection Authority, Ministry for Primary Industries Australia / New Zealand Product Standards Committees (eg children s toys, household cost, prams and strollers and pedal bicycles) International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization and International Consumer Product Safety Caucus Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Product Safety Consultative Committee (Australia) General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (China) business and trade organisations such as the New Zealand Retailers Association and the Employers and Manufacturers Association. Investigates and responds to consumer and trader complaints and enquiries. Prepares advisory and guidance material and resources for consumers and business to promote product safety. Monitors emerging product safety risks and issues and implements appropriate responses. Undertakes market surveillance, including visiting traders and suppliers, and sampling and testing products. Monitors and responds to product safety recall notices posted by overseas regulators and reported by businesses. Manages the all of government Product Recalls website ( and provides advice on product safety recall notices to ensure maximum effectiveness. Recalls Risk management National networking Consumer awareness Investigations and interventions Assessing new product technologies ELEMENTS OF PRODUCT SAFETY Consistent with international best practice Alertness and monitoring Standards Testing Business responsibility

7 Auctioneers Trading Standards administer and maintain the Auctioneers Register. The Auctioneers Act was passed into law in December 2013 and it sets out what information a person needs to provide to become registered as an auctioneer. A person carries on business as an auctioneer if the person, in trade, charges a fee or a commission for, or requires the payment of any part of the proceeds of, a sale by auction, other than as an employee or agent of a registered auctioneer. The Act made a number of regulatory changes that strengthened consumer rights and simplified business compliance. It also resulted in a simpler registration system and provides for an online public register of auctioneers.

8 Motor Vehicles Traders Register Trading Standards administer and maintain the Motor Vehicle Traders Register (MVTR). The MVTR holds essential information about registered traders and their business. The Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 (MVSA) sets out the criteria for who must register as a motor vehicle trader. Basically, all persons carrying on the business of motor vehicle trading are required to register. The online register can be searched for registered traders along with banned traders. The MVTR can be used to find out if a motor vehicle trader is registered and therefore legally able to trade. Acting in its capacity as the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders, Trading Standards is responsible for sections of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act This includes investigating odometer tampering and motor vehicle traders who are trading illegally. Complaints about problems with a vehicle purchased should be referred to the Commerce Commission or Consumer Protection.

9 Independently Qualified Pool Inspectors Trading Standards administer and maintain the Independently Qualified Pool Inspector (pool inspector) Register. When pool owners have their swimming pool barriers inspected to ensure they comply with the Building Act, they will be able to choose either their local territorial authority (local council) or an independent pool inspector to carry out the three yearly inspection. A pool inspector is someone who has been accepted by Trading Standards on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as qualified to carry out inspections to determine whether a pool has barriers that meet the requirements of the Building Act.

10 Contact us General enquiries (To report a potentially unsafe product, make a weight or measure or fuel quality query): Freephone: (From within New Zealand) Website: tradingstandards.mbie.govt.nz Phone: From overseas: Phone Fax: Office locations NORTHERN REGION Our office, laboratory, and workshop for this region are at: 502 Rosebank Road PO Box Avondale Auckland 1746 CENTRAL REGION Our Head Office is at: PO Box 1473, Wellington Stout Street, Wellington 6011 Our laboratory and workshop for this region are at: Measurement Standards Laboratory Callaghan Innovation Mackay Building 69 Gracefield Road Seaview Lower Hutt SOUTH ISLAND REGION (CHRISTCHURCH) Our office, laboratory, and workshop for this region are at: MBIE Business Service Centre 55 Wordsworth Street Private Bag 4714 Sydenham Christchurch 8023

11 MB tradingstandards.mbie.govt.nz