Australia MEPS Certification

The energy performance of electrical and electronic products is increasingly scrutinized by consumers, driving global demand for energy efficiency certifications. Testing & Certification Australia has introduced the Mandatory Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for the Australian market. The Australian government’s energy efficiency requirements include Energy Rating Labels and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).

Mandatory Energy Rating Labels

All products listed below sold in Australia must display an Energy Rating Label at the point of sale:

Refrigerators and ice-makers

Washing machines

Clothes dryers

Dishwashers

Air conditioners (mandatory for single-phase, voluntary for three-phase)

MEPS Compliance Requirements

The following products must meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), which define their minimum energy efficiency levels:

Refrigerators and ice-makers (effective 1 October 1999; revised 1 January 2005).

Main-pressure storage electric water heaters (effective 1 October 1999).

Small main-pressure storage electric water heaters (<80L) and low-pressure heat exchange units (effective 1 October 2005; refer to limits and test methods under the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO)).

Three-phase electric motors (0.73 kW to <185 kW) (effective 1 October 2001; revised April 2006).

Single-phase air conditioners (effective 1 October 2004; revised in 2006, 2007, and 1 April 2008).

Three-phase air conditioners with cooling capacity ≤65 kW (effective 1 October 2001; revised 1 October 2007).

Straight-tube fluorescent lamp ballasts (effective 1 March 2003). Note: Ballasts must also display an Energy Efficiency Index (EEI).

Straight-tube fluorescent lamps (length: 550 mm to 1500 mm; power >16 W) (effective 1 October 2004).

Distribution transformers (11 kV and 22 kV; 10 kVA to 2.5 MVA) (effective 1 October 2004).

Commercial refrigerated cabinets (self-contained and remote systems) (effective 1 October 2004).

Upcoming MEPS Compliance Requirements

The following products, though not yet mandatory, will soon require MEPS certification. Implementation dates are specified where available:

External power supplies (effective 1 October 2008).

Set-top boxes (effective 1 October 2008).

Televisions.

Home entertainment devices (audio/video equipment) (effective 1 October 2008).

Hot/cold water dispensers.

Vending machines.

Commercial ice-makers.

Lamp series.