A new agreement between Australia and New Zealand will support innovation and strengthen trade and consumer protections across both countries.
Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand have signed a new Standards Development and Distribution Agreement, renewing longstanding cooperation between the two national standards bodies.
Having a coordinated approach to standards reduces red tape, allowing businesses across both sides of the Tasman to operate with certainty.
The agreement will strengthen cooperation across shared priority areas including emerging technologies, energy transition, climate resilience, digital technologies and supply chains.
The joint standards are developed by experts from across industry, government and academia and provide clear rules and guidance to support safety, quality, productivity, compatibility and consumer protection.
The agreement also provides clearer pathways for joint standards development, and more streamlined adoption of international standards. It builds on more than 40 years of cooperation between Australia and New Zealand on standards development.
The new agreement took effect on 1 January 2026.
