{"id":2515,"date":"2026-10-08T23:26:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T23:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/new-zealand-bans-pvc-plasticiser-mccps-and-long-chain-pfas-from\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T23:26:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T23:26:07","slug":"new-zealand-bans-pvc-plasticiser-mccps-and-long-chain-pfas-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/new-zealand-bans-pvc-plasticiser-mccps-and-long-chain-pfas-from\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Bans PVC Plasticiser MCCPs and Long-Chain PFAS from December 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New Zealand has imposed restrictions on medium-chain chlorinated paraffins<\/strong> and UV-328-containing products<\/strong> due to their status as persistent organic pollutants, aligning with international environmental commitments.<\/p>\n

New Zealand’s government has added two industrial chemical groups, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins used in PVC plastics and long-chain PFAS acids, to its banned-pollutant lists, with the ban starting on Dec. 16, 20261<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The same package adds an aircraft-use exemption for UV-328, a sunlight-blocking additive for plastics, from Oct. 9, 2026, and lists the farm pesticide chlorpyrifos from July 8, 20272<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In short, from Dec. 16, 2026, shipments of these chemicals, or of products made with them, can no longer enter or leave New Zealand unless a listed exemption covers them. Existing goods already in the country can stay in use until they wear out1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Which two orders did New Zealand make?<\/h2>\n

The Governor-General made two orders on Sept. 7, 2026, and the New Zealand Gazette listed both among new secondary legislation3<\/a><\/sup>. The first is the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Schedules 1AA and 2A) Order 2026<\/strong>, numbered SL 2026\/2642<\/a><\/sup>. It changes the country’s main law on hazardous chemicals, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, called the HSNO Act here.<\/p>\n

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When each part of the chemical bans starts<\/h4>\n
\n \n \n
Date<\/th>Chemicals<\/th>What starts<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Oct. 9, 2026<\/th>UV-328<\/td>New aircraft-use exemption<\/td><\/tr>\n
Dec. 16, 2026<\/th>MCCPs and LC-PFCAs<\/td>Ban on import, export, manufacture and use<\/td><\/tr>\n
July 8, 2027<\/th>Chlorpyrifos<\/td>Ban on use and export<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The second is the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No 2) 2004 Amendment Order 2026, numbered SL 2026\/2664<\/a><\/sup>. It adds the chemicals to the list of goods that may not be exported from New Zealand, with some exceptions4<\/a><\/sup>. Both orders are run by the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions, and Transport3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Together, the two orders put the chemicals under rules that ban their import, export, manufacture and use<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>. The Cabinet paper behind the orders says the listing in the HSNO Act’s Schedule 2A brings in that ban for the two industrial chemical groups1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Why is New Zealand banning these chemicals?<\/h2>\n

New Zealand is a party to the Stockholm Convention, a United Nations treaty that removes or limits persistent organic pollutants (POPs)<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>. These are toxic chemicals that stay in nature for a long time, travel far, and build up in people and animals through the food chain1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In May 2025, parties to the treaty agreed to add three chemicals to its list, all with some exemptions1<\/a><\/sup>. The worldwide start date for these new limits is Dec. 16, 2026<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>. That is why New Zealand’s ban on the two industrial chemical groups starts the same day.<\/p>\n

The Minister for the Environment, Nicola Grigg, told Cabinet that a ban protects health and nature and avoids future clean-up costs1<\/a><\/sup>. The paper also says it keeps New Zealand in line with its main trading partners1<\/a><\/sup>. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the chemicals regulator, consulted the public from March 16 to April 17, 2026, and received 19 submissions, which overall supported the plan1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

What are MCCPs and where are they found?<\/h2>\n

Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins, or MCCPs, are oily chemicals added mainly to soften PVC plastic and to slow fire1<\/a><\/sup>. They are also used as additives in metal-cutting fluids, paints, glues, sealants and rubbers1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

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Trace levels caught by the export ban, % by weight<\/h4>\n
\n 3%<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n MCCPs (above)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 1%<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n Short-chain (at or above)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/figure>\n

The orders define MCCPs by their chemistry. They are mixtures with carbon chains of 14 to 17 carbon atoms<\/strong> and at least 45% chlorine by weight, or with certain set chemical formulas4<\/a><\/sup>. Small amounts can also count. For export, the ban covers MCCPs found as unintended traces in products when they make up more than 3% by weight<\/strong>4<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The export order also sets a trace limit for a related, already-listed group, short-chain chlorinated paraffins. The ban applies to their traces in mixtures at 1% by weight or more<\/strong>4<\/a><\/sup>. These trace rules start on Dec. 16, 20264<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

What are LC-PFCAs and where are they found?<\/h2>\n

Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, their salts and related compounds, called LC-PFCAs, belong to the PFAS family of fluorine-based chemicals1<\/a><\/sup>. They are used in electronics, medical and lab devices, food-contact materials, paints, firefighting foams, personal care products and cars1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The orders cover acids with 8 to 20 carbon atoms<\/strong> in the fluorinated chain, and chemicals that can break down into them4<\/a><\/sup>. One group is left out: PFOA, its salts and related compounds, which the treaty already lists separately2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Which uses can continue under the exemptions?<\/h2>\n

The treaty lets countries keep some uses for a time, called specific exemptions<\/strong>, which allow named uses to go on after the ban1<\/a><\/sup>. New Zealand will take up all the exemptions for both chemical groups1<\/a><\/sup>. Officials must register this with the treaty office before Dec. 16, 20261<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

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How long the exemptions last<\/h4>\n
\n \n \n
Use<\/th>Allowed until<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Some general MCCP uses<\/th>Dec. 16, 2031<\/td><\/tr>\n
MCCPs in heavy-duty metal-cutting fluids<\/th>2036<\/td><\/tr>\n
MCCPs in repair parts for cars, machines, medical and defence goods<\/th>End of goods’ life or 2041<\/td><\/tr>\n
LC-PFCAs in replacement chips<\/th>Dec. 16, 2031<\/td><\/tr>\n
LC-PFCAs in some repair parts<\/th>2041<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

For MCCPs, the allowed uses include2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n