New Zealand to Adopt Digital Labelling Standard, Aligning with Australia to Cut Export Costs

Regulation Minister David Seymour announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Product Labelling Review has been completed, paving the way for changes that will make it easier for Kiwi exporters to sell abroad and for foreign companies to enter New Zealand. The government will adopt new digital labelling requirements and revise over‑the‑counter (OTC) medicine labels, while decisions on the rest of the review remain pending. Digital labelling will allow real‑time updates, reduce the cost of physical labels, and align New Zealand with the global standard. The review estimates that the digital changes will generate about $111 million in net benefits over ten years. Aligning OTC medicine labelling with Australia will cut the need for special relabelling, making New Zealand a more attractive destination for international brands and improving consumer access to medicines.