Main Trade-Related Laws in New Zealand
Page 1
APPENDIX TABLES
New ZealandWT/TPR/S/115Page 1
Table AII.1
Main trade-related laws in New Zealand
Principal Legislation / SubjectCustoms and Excise Act 1996; Tariff Act 1988 / Customs regulations; tariffs; preferential tariffs; duty drawback;
Customs and Excise Act 1996 / Rules of origin for preferential tariffs; customs valuation
Customs and Excise Act 1996; Import Control Act / Import and export regulations/licensing
Customs and Excise Act 1996; Import Control Act / Import/export prohibitions
Companies Act, 1993 / Registration of companies; company law
Commerce Act, 1986; Telecommunications Act 2001; Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 / Competition policy
Fair Trading Act 1986; Consumer Guarantees Act 1993; Sale of Goods Act 1908 / Consumer protection
Overseas Investment Act, 1973 / Investment
Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act 1988 / Anti-dumping and countervailing investigations and measures
Temporary Safeguard Authorities Act 1987 / Safeguard investigations and measures
Standards Act 1988 / Standards and metrology
Biosecurity Act, 1993; Animal Products Act 1999; Meat Act 1981; Dairy Industry Act, 1952; Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act, 1997 / Sanitary and phytosanitary regulations
Food Act 1981; Winemakers Act 1981; Medicine Act 1981 / Food standards
Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 / Goods and services tax
Customs and Excise Act 1996 / Excise taxes
Commerce Act 1986; Telecommunications Act 2001; Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 / Price controls
Patents Act, 1953 / Patents protection
Trade Marks Act 1953 / Trade marks
Designs Act 1953 / Industrial designs
Copyright Act 1994 / Copyright protection
Layout Designs Act 1994 / Layout designs of integrated circuits
Geographical Indications Act 1994; Fair Trading Act 1986 / Geographical indications
Plant Variety Rights Act 1987 / Protection of plant varieties
Source:Government of New Zealand.
Table AIII.1
Enforcement action by the Commerce Commission, 1995-02a
Investigations commenced / Compliance advice letter / Warnings / Settlements / Litigation2001-02
Market behaviourb / 56 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 2
Market structureb / 19 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0
Fair trading / 373 / 22 / 186 / 37 / 34
Product safety / 59 / 3 / 20 / 11 / 4
Dairy industry / 4 / .. / .. / .. / ..
2000-01
Market behaviourb / 50 / .. / 8 / 2 / 2
Market structureb / 45 / .. / .. / .. / ..
Fair trading / 360 / .. / 181 / 48 / 37
Product safety / 36 / .. / .. / .. / ..
1999-00
Restrictive trade practices / 55 / n.a. / 8 / 3 / 3
Business acquisitions / 35 / n.a. / .. / .. / ..
Fair trading / 286 / n.a. / 107 / 35 / 26
Product safety / 180 / n.a. / 155 / 8 / 5
1998-99
Restrictive trade practices / 49 / n.a. / 15 / 3 / 2
Business acquisitions / 75 / n.a. / .. / .. / ..
Fair trading / 221 / n.a. / 100 / 44 / 13
1997-98
Restrictive trade practices / 74 / n.a. / 11 / 7 / 10
Business acquisitions / 98 / n.a. / .. / .. / ..
Fair trading / 511 / n.a. / 218 / 68 / 35
1996-97
Restrictive trade practices / 52 / n.a. / 40 / 5 / 3
Business acquisitions / 108 / n.a. / .. / .. / ..
Fair trading / (approx.) 600 / n.a. / .. / .. / 25
1995-96
Restrictive trade practices / 61 / n.a. / 29 / 7 / ..
Business acquisitions / 99 / n.a. / .. / .. / ..
Fair trading / 699 / n.a. / .. / .. / ..
..Not available.
n.a.Not applicable.
aYears ending 30 June.
bRestrictive trade practice and business acquisitions investigations were renamed market behaviour and market structure investigations, respectively, in 2001.
Source:New Zealand Commerce Commission.
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