Consultation on draft Unsafe Goods (Consumer Sand Products) Notice 2026

Background information

Since November 2025, multiple play, hobby and decorative products containing sand were found to include traces of asbestos. As of September 2026, suppliers have carried out 23 recalls of sand products containing asbestos, affecting around 46,000 units. It is illegal to import products containing asbestos, or to handle them in a workplace, without the express permission of the relevant regulator.

Asbestos continues to be detected in sand products sold in New Zealand, and existing prohibitions on asbestos alone do not provide sufficient assurance that products are free from asbestos or that future products entering the market will be appropriately tested.

An unsafe goods notice requiring specified sand products to be tested before supply is considered a more effective way to manage this risk. The notice takes a targeted and precautionary approach by restricting only products that have not been appropriately tested, while allowing the continued supply of products where there is sufficient evidence that they are free from asbestos.

We welcome feedback on the draft unsafe goods notice.

About the consultation

MBIE is seeking feedback on a draft Unsafe Goods (Consumer Sand Products) Notice 2026. This draft notice proposes to ban the import and supply of most toys, decorative, artistic and craft products that contain sand - unless mandatory testing requirements have been met. 

The purpose of this consultation is to seek feedback on whether the proposed requirements are clear, effective, proportionate, and practical to implement. Feedback from individuals, businesses, industry groups, consumer organisations, and other interested parties will help ensure the final notice appropriately manages the risk of asbestos in consumer sand products.

We are seeking feedback on the draft notice, including:

• the types of products covered by the notice
• the testing requirements and standards that must be met (including the incorporation of international standards by reference)
• the proposed enforcement arrangements and review period for the notice.

Material incorporated by reference

As part of the draft notice, MBIE proposes to incorporate by reference -

ISO 22262-2:2026, Air quality — Bulk materials — Part 2: Quantitative determination of asbestos by gravimetric and microscopical methods(external link) — International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

This standard is incorporated to ensure that required testing of sand products uses reliable methods and a competent laboratory.

The referenced standard is available for purchase online through the links above. If you wish to inspect the material incorporated by reference, please contact productsafetypolicy@mbie.govt.nz