Fridges & freezers (domestic)

On 28 May 2018, New Zealand Cabinet approved the proposed updates to regulations for Household Refrigeration products. This follows approval by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Ministers (including Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods).

Ministers agreed to the Decision Regulation Impact Statement for Household Refrigerators and Freezers, and accepted the following recommendations:

Tighten and align MEPS levels applicable to household refrigerators and freezers to those adopted in the United States of America as at 15 September 2014, and
Replace the regionally-specific AS/NZS 4474.1 test standard with the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) test standard IEC 62552 parts 1 to 3, published February 2015.

View the Decision RIS for Household Refrigerators and Freezers(external link)

Consultation

AS/NZS Standard

The E3 Programme is now working with stakeholders to revise the related AS/NZS 4474.2 performance standard and the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Household Refrigerating Appliances) Determination 2012. This is ahead of the introduction of new MEPS levels that are expected to become effective in Australia by 1 January 2021.

A draft of the standard is currently out for public comment through Standards Australia until 15 August 2018.

Consultation RIS

More information on this proposal and the consultation that occurred remains available on the Energy Rating website.

Consultation RIS - Household refrigerators and freezers(external link)

Proposed implementation dates

Revise MEPS to align with US levels from no earlier than 1 January 2021
Adopt IEC test method from no earlier than 1 January 2021.

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

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