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NZEnglishOfficial records available

New Zealand cosmetic ingredient regulations

Official group-standard schedules cover prohibited, restricted and positive-list substances.

Regulator
Environmental Protection Authority
Source language
English
Coverage version
Cosmetic Products Group Standard schedules effective 1 January 2026

What this list is

New Zealand regulates cosmetics as hazardous substances. The rules sit in a group standard issued by the Environmental Protection Authority, not in a cosmetics act, and the schedules read differently as a result.

  • 2,913 New Zealand records: 2,166 prohibited, 390 restricted, 357 on a positive list.
  • The instrument is the Cosmetic Products Group Standard, made under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.
  • The regulator is the Environmental Protection Authority, not a medicines or food agency.
  • Schedules 4 to 8 mirror the EU annex structure closely, which makes the divergences easy to miss.

New Zealand reaches cosmetics through hazardous-substances law. The Cosmetic Products Group Standard, issued under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, sets the conditions under which cosmetic products may be imported or manufactured, and the Environmental Protection Authority administers it. There is no separate cosmetics regulator.

In substance the schedules will look familiar: schedules 4 through 8 are laid out much like the EU annexes, with prohibited substances, restricted substances and positive lists for colourants, preservatives and UV filters. That resemblance is the risk. Because the structure matches, it is easy to assume the contents do, and the group standard is amended on its own schedule by its own authority.

The 2,913 records here carry the status the group standard gives them. Where a substance appears as restricted, the limit and conditions are as written in the schedule; where a substance does not appear, no New Zealand entry was resolved for it, which is not the same as a finding that it may be used.

Checked against

Official ingredient records

2913 matching records
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Allyl heptine carbonate (allyl oct-2-ynoate)

CAS 73157-43-4 · EC 277-303-1

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 152.

Conditions: Maximum concentration: 0.002% · Other limitations: This material shall not be used in combination with any other 2-alkynoic acid ester (e.g. methyl heptine carbonate)

Source:Schedule 5, reference 152, source row 183 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Allyl nonanoate

CAS 7493-72-3 · EC 231-334-7

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 149.

Conditions: Other limitations: Level of free allyl alcohol in the ester shall be less than 0.1%

Source:Schedule 5, reference 149, source row 179 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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Permitted list with conditionsBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Aluminium

CAS 7429-90-5 · EC 231-072-3

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 6, reference 117.

Conditions: Colour index: 77000 · CAS: 7429-90-5 · Colour: White · Other limitations: E 173

Source:Schedule 6, reference 117, source row 129 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Aluminium fluoride

CAS 7784-18-1 · EC 232-051-1

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 34.

Conditions: Product scope: Oral products · Maximum concentration: 0.15% calculated as F When mixed with other fluorine compounds permitted under Schedule 5, total F concentration must not exceed 0.15% · Warnings: Contains aluminium fluoride. For any toothpaste with compounds containing fluorine at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.15%, calculated as F, unless it is already labelled as contra-indicated for children (e.g. for adult use only) the following labelling is obligatory: Children five years and under should use a smear of toothpaste and children six years and over should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 34, source row 55 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Aluminium zirconium chloride hydroxide complexes e.g. AlxZr(OH)yClz and the aluminium zirconium chloride hydroxide glycine complexes

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 50.

Conditions: Product scope: Antiperspirants · Maximum concentration: 20% as anhydrous aluminium zirconium chloride hydroxide 5.4% as zirconium · Other limitations: The ratio of the number of aluminium atoms to that of zirconium atoms must be between two and 10. The ratio of the number of (Al + Zr) atoms to that of chlorine atoms must be between 0.9 and 2.1. Prohibited in aerosol dispensers (sprays). · Warnings: Do not apply to irritated or damaged skin.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 50, source row 71 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Ammonia

CAS 7664-41-7 · EC 231-635-3

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 4.

Conditions: Maximum concentration: 6% calculated as NH3 · Warnings: Above 2%: Contains ammonia.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 4, source row 7 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Ammonia

CAS 1336-21-6 · EC 215-647-6

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 4.

Conditions: Maximum concentration: 6% calculated as NH4 · Warnings: Above 2%: Contains ammonia.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 4, source row 8 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Ammonium fluoride

CAS 12125-01-8 · EC 235-185-9

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 33.

Conditions: Product scope: Oral products · Maximum concentration: 0.15% calculated as F When mixed with other fluorine compounds permitted under Schedule 5, total F concentration must not exceed 0.15% · Warnings: Contains ammonium fluoride. For any toothpaste with compounds containing fluorine at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.15%, calculated as F, unless it is already labelled as contra-indicated for children (e.g. for adult use only) the following labelling is obligatory: Children five years and under should use a smear of toothpaste and children six years and over should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 33, source row 54 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Ammonium fluorosilicate (ammonium hexafluorosilicate)

CAS 16919-19-0 · EC 240-968-3

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 42.

Conditions: Product scope: Oral products · Maximum concentration: 0.15% calculated as F When mixed with other fluorine compounds permitted under Schedule 5, total F concentration must not exceed 0.15% · Warnings: Contains ammonium fluorosilicate. For any toothpaste with compounds containing fluorine at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.15%, calculated as F, unless it is already labelled as contra-indicated for children (e.g. for adult use only) the following labelling is obligatory: Children five years and under should use a smear of toothpaste and children six years and over should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 42, source row 63 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Ammonium monofluorophosphate

CAS 20859-38-5 · EC - / -

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 26.

Conditions: Product scope: Oral products · Maximum concentration: 0.15% calculated as F When mixed with other fluorine compounds permitted under Schedule 5, total F concentration must not exceed 0.15% · Warnings: Contains ammonium monofluorophosphate. For any toothpaste with compounds containing fluorine at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.15%, calculated as F, unless it is already labelled as contra-indicated for children (e.g. for adult use only) the following labelling is obligatory: Children five years and under should use a smear of toothpaste and children six years and over should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 26, source row 45 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

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Market coverage contract

Complete schedules dataset
Included scope
Schedules 4–8: prohibited, restricted, colourant, preservative and UV-filter entries.
If no match is found
The searchable spreadsheet is an aid; the legal Group Standard and incorporated notices remain authoritative.

Complete verification checklist

  1. Search exact identity across Schedules 4–8.
  2. Apply use, concentration and warning conditions.
  3. Check hazardous-substance classification and Group Standard scope.
  4. Confirm the latest legal instrument, not only the spreadsheet.

How New Zealand differs from other markets

Comparing this market's imported rules against every other market's for the same substance. A market with no imported rule for a substance is left out of that comparison rather than treated as permitting it.

27 substances where New Zealand is stricter than some markets

A formula cleared elsewhere can fail here.

Boric AcidDiethylene GlycolPhenolCatalaseDichloromethaneDihydrocoumarinOxyquinolineThiramZirconium PowderButaneChloropheneFormaldehydeHydroquinoneIsobutaneQUATERNIUM-15Sodium PerborateButylphenyl MethylpropionalCholecalciferolMethylene GlycolSilver NitrateEthylhexyl EthylhexanoateTagetes Erecta Flower ExtractAmmonium Silver Zinc Aluminum SilicateOxyquinoline SulfateSodium BorateErgocalciferolDihydroxyacetone
165 substances where New Zealand is more permissive than some markets

Permitted here under conditions and prohibited, or more tightly held, elsewhere — so a formula built for this market may not travel.

Methyl Alcohol1-NAPHTHOLBenzoyl PeroxideChloramine THydrogen PeroxideP-HYDROXYANISOLE1,5-NAPHTHALENEDIOL2,7-NAPHTHALENEDIOL2-AMINO-6-CHLORO-4-NITROPHENOL2-METHYLRESORCINOL3-NITRO-P-HYDROXYETHYLAMINOPHENOL4-AMINO-2-HYDROXYTOLUENE4-AMINO-3-NITROPHENOL4-AMINO-M-CRESOLButoxyethanolDichloropheneM-AMINOPHENOLMethyl EugenolNitromethaneP-PHENYLENEDIAMINEPhenyl Methyl PyrazoloneSilver NitrateTalcTOLUENE-2,5-DIAMINEZinc Pyrithione1,3-BIS-(2,4-DIAMINOPHENOXY)PROPANE1-HYDROXYETHYL 4,5-DIAMINO Pyrazole Sulfate2,6-DIAMINOPYRIDINE2,6-DIHYDROXY-3,4-DIMETHYLPYRIDINE2,6-DIHYDROXYETHYLAMINOTOLUENE2-AMINO-3-HYDROXYPYRIDINE2-AMINO-4-HYDROXYETHYLAMINOANISOLE2-CHLORO-6-ETHYLAMINO-4-NITROPHENOL2-HYDROXYETHYL Picramic Acid2-HYDROXYETHYLAMINO-5-NITROANISOLE2-METHYL-5-HYDROXYETHYLAMINOPHENOL3-AMINO-2,4-DICHLOROPHENOL3-METHYLAMINO-4-NITROPHENOXYETHANOL4-HYDROXYPROPYLAMINO-3-NITROPHENOL4-NITRO-O-PHENYLENEDIAMINE

and 125 more — see the full comparison

Official sources and legal role

New Zealand cosmetic product schedules 4–8

Prohibited and restricted substances, permitted colorants, preservatives and UV filters

Legal meaning: Official EPA group standard schedules; current market-specific rule source

Available language: English

What this market page can answer

Source and authority

Identify the official material and the regulator responsible for it: Environmental Protection Authority.

Language and scope

See whether usable English or bilingual material exists and what the mapped source actually covers. Current source language: English.

Evidence status

Browse ingredient-level records imported from official sources. Each row states whether it passed deterministic source checks or human editorial review.

How to verify an ingredient for this market

  1. Search the ingredient by INCI name, CAS number or EC number and record the exact identity.
  2. Open each official source above and check the current version, product scope, concentration limits and required warnings.
  3. Confirm effective dates and whether an English text is official, reviewed or only contextual.
  4. Treat a missing local match as unknown, never as permission or a safety conclusion.
Screen an INCI listSearch ingredientsReview source methodology