Guidelines & Codes
Polyurethane Condom
Medsafe, with the assistance of Standards New Zealand, the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd and in consultation with industry, has published a standard for polyurethane condoms.
The standard (New Zealand Standard 7106:1998 Polyurethane Condoms) was gazetted on 28 January 1999, therefore, it is now legal to sell polyurethane condoms in New Zealand provided they comply with the requirements of the standard. The standard applies to both male and female polyurethane condoms.
Legislation requires the Minister of Health to gazette a standard before a contraceptive device can be sold in New Zealand, hence the development of this standard.
The standard has been designed to ensure that polyurethane condoms are of equal quality to latex condoms. As with the latex condom standard, the polyurethane condom standard includes specifications, a test for holes, an air burst test and labelling requirements.
Companies wishing to market polyurethane condoms in New Zealand should contact Trevor Nisbet at Medsafe to discuss the requirements of the standard. A copy of the standard can be purchased from Standards New Zealand.
Consumer information on polyurethane condoms is available on this web site.