NZCTWA

The New Zealand Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Association [NZCTWA] is a Ministry Of Health (MOH) recognised Self - Regulating trade group devoted to protecting public safety by ensuring teeth whitening practitioners are professionally trained, Certified and regulated

 It is a non-profit Association

 Dealing with an NZCTWA Registered Teeth Whitening Practitioner displaying NZCTWA Certification is the public assurance that they are dealing with a trained, qualified, and safe Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Practitioner or vendor who takes pride in the quality of their service and care

NZCTWA Media Release July 2011

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR TEETH WHITENERS

The Governments Environmental Risk Management Authority [ERMA] now known as the Environmental Protection Authority [EPA] has established for the first time clear rules around teeth whiteners containing hydrogen peroxide and their use.

The Authority’s decision includes requirements for labelling of over-the-counter OTC tooth whitening products such as you would find in a Chemist, Supermarket, Beauty Salon, Spa, Gym, and the like.

It also divides tooth-whitening products into three categories and places sale and use restrictions on the highest two of these categories, including requiring dentist supervision of the products posing a higher risk to public safety.

Following the New Zealand Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Association’s [NZCTWA] submission to the ERMA of a number clinically proven safety studies conducted by globally recognised authorities (such as the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, a recognised world leader in dental research) rebuffing what appears to be exaggerated claims of dentists lobby groups, teeth whitening products containing less than 7 percent hydrogen peroxide will continue to be available to the public and used and sold without restriction.

Products containing more than 7 percent hydrogen peroxide will be subject to some restrictions on their sale and use being:

  • Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Practitioners may continue to use products containing 7-12 percent hydrogen peroxide.
  • Products containing more than 12 percent hydrogen peroxide will only be able to be used under the supervision of a dentist.

It should be noted that most independent cosmetic teeth whitening practitioners of the Appearance Enhancement & Beauty industry in NZ already use new safer whitening systems meaning the new ERMA safety requirements for Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Practitioners have already been voluntarily in place amongst the majority of NZCTWA members for some time.

The ERMA committee also noted the express willingness of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to work with the NZCTWA to develop health safety guidelines for Teeth Whitening; this was welcomed and the NZCTWA Executive and subsequently representives have met. The MOH has reviewed the NZCTWA’s Code of Conduct & Practise, particularly the Codes provisions for Health, Safety and Hygiene protocols and all MOH recomendations are being implemented.

In New Zealand, the NZ Governments Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) (formerly ERMA) has established Public Safety Standards for the Cosmetic Teeth Whitening products suppliers and practitioners of our industry
- see NZCTWA media release and full ERMA Public Safety Rules.
- New Zealand Law