Since 2015, under the EPA, New Zealand cosmetics are required by law to label any nano material (NM) in their ingredients list with [nano]. Nano is a frontier for research across many industries from filters to fabrics to cosmetics, and not just minerals but plants too. New Zealand recognised that the consumer should know that this technology had been included in a particular formulation.

The New Zealand Cosmetic Group Standard follows the definition of the EU Cosmetic Regulation. Here is the current definition for New Zealand.

“Nanomaterial means an insoluble or biopersistent and intentionally manufactured material with one or more external dimensions, or an internal structure, on the scale from 1 to 100nm.”