Commercial refrigeration

On 28 May 2018, Cabinet approved the proposed updates to regulations for commercial refrigeration products.

This followed approval by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Ministers (including New Zealand Energy and Resources Minister, Dr Megan Woods) of the Decision Regulation Impact Statement for commercial refrigerated display and storage cabinets and accepted the following recommendations:

Adopt the international (ISO) test method for refrigerated display cabinets and European test methods for other refrigerated display cabinet types and storage cabinets.
Increase Australasian MEPS levels to align with European Commission MEPS levels.

This project has now closed following the creation of the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Amendment Regulations 2020.

Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Amendment Regulations 2020

The Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Amendment Regulations 2020(external link) were made on 14 December 2020. This amendment includes updates to commercial refrigerated display cabinets' energy efficiency requirements.

This amendment came into force on 1 July 2021.

What are the requirements?

Please see the refrigerated cabinets page for more information about the new requirements and transition information.

Project history

Refrigerated Cabinets Determination Exposure Draft

In November 2017, the COAG Energy Council agreed to implement the recommendations contained in the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement: Refrigerated display and storage cabinets.

Implementation is now underway to introduce tighter MEPS for refrigerated display cabinets and MEPS for storage cabinets and ice cream freezers adopting international test standards for all affected models.

The proposed changes are designed to reduce commercial energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, along with the regulatory burden on industry, by adopting an international test standard used by many of our major trading partners.

In New Zealand, the relevant legislation is the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002. Whilst the determination is an Australian legal document, it may be of interest to New Zealand stakeholders as the New Zealand Government is proposing to adopt changes to its regulations to align with the replacement determination.

What are the new requirements?

No earlier than January 2020, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of refrigerated cabinets sold in Australia and New Zealand will need to ensure that their products:

have been tested to the relevant European standards to determine their energy consumption
have been registered on the Energy Rating website
do not exceed the prescribed levels for energy consumption.

These requirements will apply to refrigerated display cabinets, refrigerated drinks cabinets, ice cream freezer cabinets, ice cream scooping cabinets and refrigerated storage cabinets.

Exclusions will apply for refrigerated vending machines, icemakers and cabinets that are designed for food processing as well as storage.

Key documents

Exposure Draft – Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Cabinets) Determination 2018 (external link)

Companion Document - Consultation on Legal Requirements for Refrigerated Display and Storage Cabinets(external link)

Submissions

The closing date for written submissions was Friday 14 December 2018.

Implementation Paper

On 10 May 2018, stakeholders were invited to comment on the Implementation update: Refrigerated display and storage cabinets paper. Stakeholders included industry associations and manufacturers. Four submissions were received.

The implementation paper was updated and sought feedback from industry on the implementation of the proposals.

The paper also updated stakeholders and industry on developments since they were consulted on the recommendations of the trans-Tasman Technical Working Group in August 2017. The implementation date for all proposals will be no earlier than 1 December 2019.

Key implementation steps and dates

Minor variations have been made to the relevant EU Standards so they are suitable for local consumption.
EEI methodology and calculations have been developed for all cabinet group types.
A proposed star rating scale has been developed which will allocate a number of stars to different models depending on their EEI.
The registration system has been upgraded and was operational from 1 December 2018. New inputs are now required for new registration channels, single registrations and low production volume/bespoke registrations (formerly referred to as “deemed to comply”).
Transitional arrangements have been identified for Australia and New Zealand prior to the implementation date. These enable existing compliant registrations to roll over to EEI registrations. They also provide the opportunity for non-compliant registrations to be upgraded to meet the new requirements.
An exposure draft of the Determination was released to stakeholders 16 November 2018.
The Australian Determination will come into force no earlier than 1 December 2019, and will coincide with corresponding amendments to the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 in New Zealand.

Regulatory Impact Statement

Decision RIS - Refrigerated Display and Storage Cabinets(external link)

Consultation on this proposal occurred in 2016.

For more information on how these decisions are being implemented in New Zealand, contact us at star@eeca.govt.nz.

View our other Regulations under review

Continue reading
Regulatory requirements under review
Have your say about regulations being revised and developed.

Read more
- Distribution transformers
  EECA and the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) are consulting on policy options to improve the energy efficiency of distribution transformers in New Zealand and Australia.
- Electronic Displays: televisions, computer monitors, and digital signage displays
  EECA and the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) have consulted on whether to update the MEPS and MEPL requirements for electronic displays.
- Australia's Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) due to expire
  EECA and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) are consulting on 6 products energy efficiency regulations that are due to sunset (expire) in Australia in the next few years.
- Residential space heaters in Australia and New Zealand
  EECA and the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) have consulted on a Space Heating Comparison Methodology
- Smart appliances
  During 2019, E3 investigated whether all new air conditioners and heat pumps, electric hot water cylinders, and electric vehicle chargers sold in New Zealand should be demand response capable.
- LED lighting
  On 28 April 2018, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council Ministers, alongside New Zealand Minister of Energy and Resources - Megan Woods, agreed to introduce minimum standards for LED lamps that align with European Union regulations.
- Air conditioners & heat pumps
  In May 2019, New Zealand Cabinet approved the E3 policy proposal to revise the MEPS and energy labeling requirements for air conditioners and heat pumps. A process to amend current regulations is underway.
- Chillers
  An E3 project to review the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for chillers has been initiated. A consultation Regulatory Impact Statement will be developed.
- Industrial equipment (pumps, boilers and compressors)
  The Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) programme has primarily targeted household electrical equipment. The E3 Programme is in the initial stages of investigating potential regulations for industrial equipment.
- Fans (non-domestic)
  In April 2019, E3 agreed to put the non-domestic fans project on hold.
- Commercial refrigeration
  In May 2018, New Zealand Cabinet approved the E3 policy proposal to revise the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for commercial refrigeration. A process to amend current regulations is underway.
- Fridges & freezers (domestic)
  On 28 May 2018, New Zealand Cabinet approved the proposed updates to regulations for Household Refrigeration products.
- Hot water systems
  EECA is leading a joint project with Australia to improve the energy efficiency of water heating in residential households under the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Programme.
- Electric motors (three-phase)
  New Zealand Cabinet has agreed to update the requirements in line with an international test standard for registration of electric motors, streamlining the registration process for industry. An issues paper is being developed.
- Commercial ice makers
  EECA and the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) have consulted on whether to introduce Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for commercial ice makers.