Skip to main content
CosIng Checker
CosIng Checker
EU cosmetic ingredients, restrictions and safety
Login
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

Magnesium fluoride

CAS 7783-40-6 · EC 231-995-1

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 56.

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 magnesium 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 56, source row 78 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full recordIngredient profile
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Magnesium fluorosilicate (magnesium hexafluorosilicate)

CAS 16949-65-8 · EC 241-022-2

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 43.

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 magnesium 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 43, source row 64 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full recordIngredient profile
ProhibitedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Metaflumizone (ISO) ((EZ)-2'-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)-1-(alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl)ethylidene]-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]carbanilohydrazide) [E-isomer ≥ 90%, Z‑isomer ≤ 10% relative content]; [1]

CAS 139968-49-3

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 4, reference 1655.

Source:Schedule 4, reference 1655, source row 2148 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full record
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Methanol

CAS 67-56-1 · EC 200-659-6

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 52.

Conditions: Product scope: Denaturant for ethanol and isopropyl alcohol · Maximum concentration: 5% calculated as a % ethanol and isopropyl alcohol

Source:Schedule 5, reference 52, source row 74 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full recordIngredient profile
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (methyl salicylate)

CAS 119-36-8 · EC 204-317-7

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 324.

Conditions: Product scope: "(a) Leave-on skin products (except face makeup, spray/aerosol body lotion, spray/aerosol deodorant and hydroalcoholic-based fragrances) and leave on hair products (except spray/aerosol products) (b) Face makeup (except lip products, eye makeup and makeup remover) (c) Eye makeup and makeup remover (d) Leave-on hair products (spray/aerosol) (e) Deodorant spray/aerosol (f) Body lotion spray/aerosol" (g) Rinse-off skin products (except hand wash) and rinse-off hair products (h) Hand wash (i) Hydro​alcoholic-based fragrances (j) Lip products (k) Toothpaste (l) Mouthwash intended for children aged 6–10 years (m) Mouthwash intended for children above 10 years of age and adults (n) Mouth spray · Maximum concentration: (a) 0.06% (b) 0.05% (c) 0.002% (d) 0.009% (e) 0.003% (f) 0.04% (g) 0.06% (h) 0.6% (i) 0.6% (j) 0.03% (k) 2.52% (l) 0.1% (m) 0.6% (n) 0.65%

Source:Schedule 5, reference 324, source row 406 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full recordIngredient profile
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Methyl 2-octynoate (methyl heptine carbonate)

CAS 111-12-6 · EC 203-836-6

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 89.

Conditions: Product scope: (a) Oral products (b) Other products · Maximum concentration: (b) 0.01% when used alone. When present in combination with methyl octine carbonate, the combined level in the finished product should not exceed 0.01% (of which methyl octine carbonate should not be more than 0.002%) · Other limitations: (a) and (b): The presence of the substance must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Schedule 1, condition 1(2) when its concentration exceeds: 0.001% in leave-on products 0.01% in rinse-off products

Source:Schedule 5, reference 89, source row 118 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full recordIngredient profile
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Methyl eugenol (1,2-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-benzene)

CAS 93-15-2 · EC 202-223-0

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 102.

Conditions: Product scope: (a) Fine fragrance (b) Eau de toilette (c) Fragrance cream (d) Other leave-on products and oral products (e) Rinse-off products · Maximum concentration: (a) 0.01% (b) 0.004% (c) 0.002% (d) 0.0002% (e) 0.001%

Source:Schedule 5, reference 102, source row 131 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full recordIngredient profile
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Methyl octine carbonate (methyl non-2-ynoate)

CAS 111-80-8 · EC 203-909-2

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 173.

Conditions: Product scope: (a) Oral products (b) Other products · Maximum concentration: (b) 0.002% when used alone When present in combination with methyl heptine carbonate, the combined level in the finished product should not exceed 0.01% (of which methyl octine carbonate should not be more than 0.002%)

Source:Schedule 5, reference 173, source row 205 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full recordIngredient profile
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Methyl-N-methylanthranilate

CAS 85-91-6

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 323.

Conditions: Product scope: (a) Leave-on products (b) Rinse-off products · Maximum concentration: (a) 0.1% (b) 0.2% · Other limitations: (a) Not to be used in sunscreen products and products marketed for exposure to natural or artificial UV light (a) and (b): - Do not use with nitrosating agents - Maximum nitrosamine content: 50 μg/kg - Keep in nitrite-free containers

Source:Schedule 5, reference 323, source row 405 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full record
RestrictedBinding ruleOriginal is EnglishOfficial-source import checked

Methylphenylenediamines, their N-substituted derivatives and their salts,ϖ with the exception of the substances in Schedule 5, entries 9a and 9b; and the following substances in Schedule 4, entries 364, 413, 1144, 1310, 1313 and 1507

New Zealand Cosmetic Products Group Standard Schedule 5, reference 9.

Conditions: Product scope: Oxidizing colouring agents for hair dyeing: (a) General use (b) Professional use · Maximum concentration: (a) and (b): After mixing under oxidative conditions the maximum concentration applied to hair must not exceed 5% calculated as free base · Warnings: For (a): The mixing ratio. ⚠Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary black henna tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: - you have a rash on your face or sensitive, irritated and damaged scalp, - you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, - you have experienced a reaction to a temporary black henna tattoo in the past. Contains phenylenediamines (toluenediamines). Do not use to dye eyelashes or eyebrows. For (b): The mixing ratio. For professional use only. ⚠Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions. Read and follow instructions. This product is not intended for use on persons under the age of 16. Temporary black henna tattoos may increase your risk of allergy. Do not colour your hair if: - you have a rash on your face or sensitive, irritated and damaged scalp, - you have ever experienced any reaction after colouring your hair, - you have experienced a reaction to a temporary black henna tattoo in the past. Contains phenylenediamines (toluenediamines). Wear suitable gloves.

Source:Schedule 5, reference 9, source row 21 · version effective-2026-01-01 · effective Jan. 1, 2026 · source checked 2026-08-30

View full record

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.

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