New Zealand will mandate the use of compostable labels on imported fruit from 2025

The New Zealand government has passed legislation that will limit the sale in New Zealand of a wide range of plastic products, including non-compostable fruit and vegetable labels. Fruit and vegetables produced in New Zealand must have compostable labels by 2023, while imported products must have compostable labels by 2025.

groups affected by the regulations
The regulations will apply to any individual, company or retailer that sells (including suppliers) or manufactures any of the covered plastic items in New Zealand. This includes:

• Manufacturers
• Companies that sell banned plastics (including those that make them available for free).
• Hospitality companies that offer these products

Fruit and vegetable stickers
The government plans to introduce restrictions on the labeling of non-compostable produce (including fresh fruit) in two phases. This will first be a mandate for domestically produced fruits and vegetables in 2023, and then, in mid-2025, a requirement for imported products. The purpose of this subsequent requirement for imported products is to give suppliers time to prepare their systems to convert to a compostable label by 2025. Compostable labels on products exported from New Zealand are not included in the regulations.

For the mandate for domestic products in 2023, the government is planning a transition period until mid-2025 to help producers meet deadlines by requiring:

1) Labels are for functional purposes only (country of origin, PLU, database, brand authentication, item identification).
2) A minimum of industrial composting certificate.
3) Allowing hybrid home composting techniques where not all construction is necessarily home composted, but the majority are.
4) Allowing the use of fully home compostable products that are in the process of obtaining final certification.

Full report.

Source : apps.fas.usda.gov