These regulations, which come into force 6 months after the date of their notification in the Gazette, are made under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. These regulations prohibit the manufacture and sale of wash-off products (other than medical devices or medicines) that contain microbeads for 1 or more of the following purposes:

• exfoliation of all or part of a person’s body:

• cleaning of all or part of a person’s body:

• abrasive cleaning of any area, surface, or thing:

• visual appearance of the product.

Section 65 of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 provides that a person who knowingly contravenes these regulations commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000.

To avoid doubt, these regulations do not affect the sale of goods that may be sold in New Zealand by virtue of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (see section 10 of that Act).