Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Water Services Act 2021

Provisions relating to supply of drinking water - Laboratory accreditation and testing

80: Suspension or revocation of accreditation

You could also call this:

"What happens if a lab doesn't meet the standards for testing water"

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

The laboratory accreditation body can suspend or revoke a laboratory's accreditation. You can find the rules for this in section 77. The body can do this if the laboratory no longer meets the required criteria and standards, and if the laboratory has had a chance to respond. The laboratory accreditation body must tell the Water Services Authority if it has concerns about a laboratory. The body cannot revoke a laboratory's accreditation if the laboratory no longer meets the criteria and standards because they have been changed, but only for 3 months after the changes come into force. The laboratory accreditation body has to follow certain rules when suspending or revoking an accreditation, which includes giving the laboratory a reasonable opportunity to be heard. You can read more about the rules for accreditation in section 77. The laboratory accreditation body must act in accordance with this section.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374767.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Environment and resources > Water safetyHealth and wellbeing > Public health
Previous

79: Application for accreditation, or

"How to apply for accreditation to test water"

Next

81: Laboratory accreditation body must notify Water Services Authority of grant of, or change to, accreditation, or

"Laboratories must tell the Water Services Authority when they get accredited or their accreditation changes."

Part 2Provisions relating to supply of drinking water
Laboratory accreditation and testing

80Suspension or revocation of accreditation

  1. The laboratory accreditation body may suspend or revoke, or amend the scope of, an accreditation under section 77 in accordance with this section.

  2. The laboratory accreditation body may suspend or revoke an accreditation only if it—

  3. is satisfied that the laboratory no longer meets the prescribed criteria and standards for accreditation; and
    1. has first given the laboratory concerned a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

      1. The laboratory accreditation body must notify the Water Services Authority if it has concerns that it believes could lead to the suspension or revocation of the accreditation of a laboratory.

      2. Despite subsection (2)(a), the laboratory accreditation body must not revoke the accreditation of a laboratory if—

      3. the prescribed criteria and standards for accreditation are amended; and
        1. the laboratory no longer meets those criteria and standards solely as a result of the amendments.

          1. The limit in subsection (4) applies only during the period of 3 months after the date on which the amendments come into force.

          Compare
          Notes
          • Section 80(3): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).