Water efficiency labelling – advisory group update

Standards New Zealand held a meeting of representatives from organisations interested in water efficiency labelling, on 10 March 2009. The meeting supported the idea of establishing an advisory group as a focal point for coordinating information to and from Standards committee WS-032.

WS-032 is a joint Australian/New Zealand Standards committee responsible for amendments to joint Standard AS/NZS 6400:2005, Water efficient products – Rating and labelling. AS/NZS 6400 covers the rating and labelling of water efficient products, such as taps, showers, and other water-using appliances.

The Ministry for the Environment has commissioned Standards New Zealand to set up and facilitate the advisory group. The aim of the advisory group is to coordinate and strengthen New Zealand's input into any amendments to the joint Standard.

The Government plans to introduce new water efficiency labelling regulations in July 2009.

For more information, email Bruce Taylor, bruce.taylor@standards.co.nz, Senior Project Manager at Standards New Zealand.

World Water Day 2009 – ISO Standards support objectives

The International Organization for Standardization's (ISO's) portfolio of more than 18,000 international Standards includes at least 430 Standards, which directly or indirectly support the objectives of this year's World Water Day, which was held on 22 March 2009.

The observance of World Water Day is a United Nations initiative. This year, it highlighted the challenges raised by the world's 263 trans-boundary lake and river basins which include the territory of 145 countries and cover nearly half the Earth's land surface. ISO too is of global dimension, comprising a network of the national Standards institutes of 159 countries, representing 97% of the world's population.

The theme of World Water Day 2009 was 'Transboundary waters: shared waters, shared opportunities'. International Standards developed by ISO can contribute to the objectives of World Water Day 2009, which builds on the idea that 'nurturing the opportunities for cooperation in transboundary water management can help build mutual respect, understanding, and trust among countries, and promote peace, security, and sustainable economic growth'.

Water footprint Standard – call for stakeholder feedback, and update on  carbon footprint Standard

Standards New Zealand is seeking comments from stakeholders on a new work item proposal (NWIP) for a new international Standard that will deliver principles, requirements, and guidelines for a water footprint metric of products, processes, and organisations. The Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) has submitted the NWIP to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Standards New Zealand is seeking New Zealand's views and advice on this work before 15 May 2009, in particular:

• does New Zealand agree the work is feasible and should go ahead?
• does New Zealand have any relevant documents to contribute to the development?
• does New Zealand want to actively participate in this work, at least by commenting on working drafts?

For more information, or to submit comments, including support for or opposition to the proposal, please contact Angela Henderson,  ...read more [opens in new window]

ISO sustainability criteria for biofuel – outcome

Standards New Zealand sought stakeholder views in late 2008 on whether the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) should develop a new international Standard on 'Sustainability criteria for biofuels'. As a result of this consultation, New Zealand voted for the work to go ahead, and to participate in its development.

The 'Sustainability criteria for biofuels' work has been approved by ISO to Preliminary Work Item (PWI) stage 0, as per New Zealand's vote. The PWI stage is applied to work items that are not ready to progress to further stages, but where there is general agreement that ISO should add this to its work programme, and develop an initial draft.

ISO will call a preliminary meeting, by June 2009, in Germany – to see what can be scoped, with a possible new project committee to be proposed to take the work forward. The German national Standards body, DIN, will host this meeting.

The aim of the meeting will be to discuss the best way to organise and structure standardisation in this field. As a member of ISO, it is possible for New Zealand to participate in this meeting.

If you would like to discuss how New Zealand could be represented in these early stage discussions, please email Angela Henderson, angela.henderson@standards.co.nz, at Standards New Zealand.

Reducing carbon emissions – experts meet to boost international standardisation

More than 250 private sector experts and public policy makers from around the world gathered in Paris, from 16 – 17 March 2009, at a workshop on international Standards. The workshop objective was to map out the most important areas where international Standards are required to support energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), jointly organised the workshop.

With volatile energy prices and growing energy security and climate change pressures, the need to effectively conserve energy in all sectors of the economy has never been higher. At the last 2008 G8 summit in Japan, G8 leaders committed themselves to maximising their implementation of 25 energy efficiency policy measures recommended by the IEA, which cover all major energy end-uses. If all economies adopted these measures, they could reduce global energy demand by 20% by 2030.

NEW PUBLICATIONS

AS/NZS 4323 Stationary source emissions

AS/NZS 4323.4:2009 Method 4: Area source sampling - Flux chamber technique

Provides parties interested in the sampling and monitoring of stationary source emissions with a flux chamber sampling technique for the determination of atmospheric contaminant emission rates from area sources; in particular, the determination of odour and hazardous air pollutants.

AS/NZS ISO 14644 Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments

AS/NZS 14644.3:2009 Test methods

Specifies test methods for designated classification of airborne particulate cleanliness and for characterising the performance of cleanrooms and clean zones. Performance tests are specified for two types of cleanrooms and clean zones: those with unidirectional flow and those with non-unidirectional flow, in three possible occupancy states: as-built, at-rest and operational. The test methods recommend test apparatus and test procedures for determining performance parameters. Where the test method is affected by the type of cleanroom or clean zone, alternative procedures are suggested. For some of the tests, several different methods and apparatus are recommended to accommodate different end-use considerations. Alternative methods not included in this part may be used if based on agreement between customer and supplier. Alternative methods do not necessarily provide equivalent measurements. Adopted with modifications from ISO 14644.3:2005.

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UPDATE ON STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Environmental Choice New Zealand

The following proposed technical change is open for public comment until 29 April 2009.

EC-07-09 Paints

The following Specification update is open for public comment until 17 May 2009.

EC-29-09 Toiletry Products

Specification Documents are available on www.enviro-choice.org.nz or by contacting

The New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust
PO Box 56-533, Dominion Road
Mt Eden
Auckland 1003

Tel: 09 845 3330
Fax 09 845 3331
email info@enviro-choice.org.nz