New Zealand will align its labelling requirements with global standards after regulation minister David Seymour completed a national product labelling review. Retailers have welcomed the move.

Seymour said the current labelling protocol “drives up prices and limits wage growth”. 

“Currently exporters face extra compliance costs preparing products for overseas markets, while consumers miss out on global goods because importers face differences in labelling requirements,” he added.

Exporters in New Zealand will now be able to use digital labelling to convey product information. “Currently there is no digital labelling standard in New Zealand,” he added. “This makes it risky for companies to use digital labels, because they don’t know what information can be conveyed digitally or what needs to remain on a physical label.”

Seymour claimed that the changes will generate around $111 million in economic benefits over the next 10 years.

Carolyn Young, CEO of Retail NZ, said the new standard will make life easier for companies.

“Digital labels are being used in markets right across the world and allow retailers – and consumers – access to a greater depth of information that can be useful for deciding what products to stock and purchase,” she said. “It’s also important New Zealand is not left behind as we move towards a more digital future.” 

Young added that adopting Australian labelling requirements for over-the-counter medicines was also a positive step for our country’s pharmacies. 

“Manufacturers and importers of non-prescription medicines that our households use regularly will no longer have to re-label those specifically for the New Zealand market, cutting costs and making our country a more attractive market to be in,” she said.