Essential Services - Non-food essential products
We have had some businesses contact us, wanting to sell online non-food products. The government has updated their list of what now can be sold online.
Businesses are able to sell essential non-food consumer products, provided they do so in a way that protects the public and minimises the risk of COVID-19 spreading.
In order to provide essential non-food consumer products, businesses must comply with the following conditions:
- Orders must be taken online or by phone only. Storefronts must not be open and the public should not be able to visit stores to select or collect goods.
- Orders must be only for essential non-food consumer products.
- In fulfilling orders, businesses must take all appropriate public health measures (e.g. physical distancing, hygiene basics, appropriate personal protective equipment for staff).
- Orders must be home delivered in a contactless way (i.e. there is no physical interaction between the deliverer and customer).
- The business must inform MBIE of its intention to offer essential non-food products for sale, and provide a list of the products they intend to offer. (See below for more information on how to do this.)
If businesses cannot meet any of the above conditions, they should not offer to sell essential goods while the country is at Alert Level 4.
This gives households access to necessities to safely isolate, stay connected, and to work or study from home during a period of Alert Level 4 restrictions. Allowing the purchase of essential products only minimises the risk to public health by reducing pressure on the distribution system and reducing movement and physical interaction between people.
It is difficult to be prescriptive about what an essential product is. We expect that essential goods cover those products that keep people warm, replace key household appliances, and maintain people’s health. They may include for example blankets, heaters, kitchenware and appliances, whiteware, computer equipment, and mobile phones.
Businesses will need to form a judgment as to which of their products are genuinely essential. We expect businesses and households to act responsibly when they decide what these essential goods might be.
New Zealanders are relying on each other to keep everyone safe and stop the spread of COVID-19. We expect businesses to minimise their product offerings and households to only order goods that are absolutely necessary. If businesses are too generous in their interpretation of what is essential or flout these rules, Government will take further action.
MBIE must be notified before you commence selling essential non-food products.
Businesses operating online, by phone, or via other contactless means are not visible in the same way as a shop on the street. To have visibility of the extent of activity, MBIE is asking businesses to let it know they are operating and what essential products they are offering.
MBIE is currently establishing a register to collect this information. This will be available on Tuesday 31 March.
If you wish to pre-register immediately, you can email essentialgoods@mbie.govt.nz with the following information:
- Business name
- Business website (if offering goods online)
- Contact phone number
- New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)
- Business service address
- List of products to be offered online (by type)
If you pre-register by email, MBIE will still require you to formally register once the MBIE register is live.
This email address is for informing MBIE of your intention to offer essential non-food products for sale, it is not for general enquiries. If you have questions please contact MBIE via its general enquiries email.
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