Asbestos in sand products
Since November 2025, multiple play, hobby and decorative products containing sand have tested positive for asbestos.
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As of October 2026, suppliers have carried out 23 recalls of sand products containing asbestos, affecting around 46,000 units. Recalled products have included play sand, decorative and artistic sand products, and toys containing sand.
Research undertaken by Auckland University of Technology found that asbestos fibres present in some recalled consumer sand products could become airborne during simulated play activities. This means consumers could inhale asbestos fibres, creating a potential health risk.
Existing laws prohibit the import of products containing asbestos, or to handling them in a workplace, without the express permission of the relevant regulator. However, these prohibitions do not ensure consumer sand products are tested before they enter the New Zealand market.
Government introduces unsafe goods notice
In October 2026, the Government introduced the Unsafe Goods (Consumer Sand Products) Notice 2026 to strengthen protections against asbestos-contaminated sand products.
The notice requires mandatory presale testing, so consumers can have greater confidence that affected sand products available in New Zealand have been tested for asbestos.
The notice is a practical short-term measure while the Government develops longer-term product safety requirements for asbestos testing.
The notice will be in place for 18 months, coming into force on 1 February 2027.
Read the Government’s announcement:
- Stronger safety measures for children’s sand products(external link) — beehive.govt.nz
Products covered and testing requirements
The notice will apply to:
- toys that include or contain accessible sand
- specified toys where the sand is sealed within the toy
- decorative, artistic, or craft products that include or contain accessible sand.
The notice will not apply to:
- sand produced by natural geological processes that is intended to fill sand pits, playgrounds, or other recreational areas; or
- board games that do not include or contain accessible sand.
For each product and product variant:
- sand from at least 3 separate units must be tested
- testing must be undertaken in accordance with ISO 22262-2:2026, ISO 22262-2:2014, or ISO 22262-1:2012 by an appropriately accredited laboratory
- suppliers must hold recent testing documentation that identifies the product and confirms that no asbestos was detected.
Read the full requirements:
- Unsafe Goods (Consumer Sand Products) Notice 2026(external link) - New Zealand Gazette
More detailed guidance for businesses on the products covered by the notice and the testing and documentation requirements will be available on the Product Safety New Zealand website:
- Asbestos in sand products(external link) - Product Safety New Zealand
To ensure compliance, suppliers should arrange any required testing and ensure supporting documentation is available before the notice comes into force.
Consultation
In September 2026, MBIE consulted on a draft unsafe goods notice 2026 and received 67 submissions.
The consultation sought feedback on whether the proposed requirements were clear, effective, proportionate, and practical to implement. The feedback from this consultation informed MBIE's advice to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on the final notice
Read the consultation document:
Unsafe goods notice for consumer sand products – discussion document [PDF 1.2MB]