Registering products?
New registration system now available
The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme’s new online registration system is now available:
One person from every WELS Licence Holder organisation has been identified as the Primary Contact for their organisation and has received an email with their username and password details.
The Primary Contact will make the new system available to other people associated with their Licence Holder organisation by sending them a username and password.
Logging in for the first time
When you log in for the first time, please check your Contact details by clicking on your name in the Active Contacts list. Edit your details to bring them up to date, and remove any duplicate or incorrect names.
Please read the HELP page available at the top of each screen, as this will guide you through the system.
There is also a Quick Tips link on the Task Menu that will give you easy instructions for basic functions, such as starting an application.
Migration of records from old system
All registration records and active applications, with some exceptions, have been migrated from the previous database, including drafts (previously known as ‘On hold’) that have not yet been submitted. You will not have to re-draft or re-submit applications that you commenced before the closure of the previous system.
Some old applications were not migrated and are not available in the new system. These are:
- 'Draft' or 'Returned' applications that have not been actioned in any way since 1 January 2008
- 'Draft' or 'Returned' applications that did not have enough identifying information in them for us to be able to match them to an organisation, and
- withdrawn and deleted applications.
Contact us
If you have any difficulties accessing the new system, please contact us on Freecall 1800 803 772 or email WELS@environment.gov.au.
How to register
To register a product, you need to submit the following material for assessment:
- a completed application - preferably online (WELS online registration system)
- test report(s) showing compliance with the WELS Standard
- a sample label
- the registration fee and
- written advice from the manufacturer acknowledging that you may apply for registration if you are not the manufacturer of the product(s) to be registered.
The time taken for registration depends on the complexity and completeness of each application. The average product registration approval time is currently four to six weeks. The registration is effective and the product legal to supply from the date of publication of a notice in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.
Registrants are encouraged to check state and territory government regulatory requirements for plumbing products. For more information see:
Testing and certifying your products
As part of the registration process you must demonstrate your manufactured or imported products meet the WELS Standard. You do this by providing WELS with laboratory test reports and other relevant product certifications showing that the water consumption of your products has been tested in accordance with relevant standards.
The National Association of Testing Authorities has listed accredited testing laboratories and these are available set out in the contact list mentioned below. More information on testing is in the WELS Suppliers Guide - Laboratory testing and maintaining quality of water efficiency performance in WELS products.
If you have a Standards Australia WaterMark certification which is out of date you need to update it and provide certification and water efficiency test reports to meet the current registration requirements for AS/NZS 6400:2005.
The contact list for registering products for the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme contains contact details of accredited bodies for WELS certification, and NATA accredited laboratories that undertake testing of WELS products. These contact details may be useful for those wanting to register WELS products.
Zero star rating
Even if your product does not meet the WELS Standard, it still needs to be labelled. To be able to label your product with a zero star rating you still need to provide test reports from an independent testing laboratory or product certifying agency showing it does not meet the WELS Standard.
'Family of models' and 'sets of minor products'
Two or more WELS products can be considered in the same 'family' if each product has the same:
- manufacturer
- brand name
- water efficiency rating
- performance and
- relevant water efficiency or performance characteristics.
The WELS Regulator may declare two or more WELS products to be 'a set' of minor products if the manufacturer's application shows:
- each product has the same manufacturer and brand name and
- less than 100 units of each product is expected to be sold each year.
Fees
It costs AUD$1,500 to register a product, a family of models, or set of minor products. The registration fee is determined in the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Determination 2005 .
The preferred and quickest method of payment is by electronic funds transfer or EFT. Alternatively, the registration fee can be paid by cheque or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only).
When paying, you must provide the WELS Record ID number so that the payment can be linked to your application. This means you need to submit your application before you pay.
Once paid, a tax invoice/receipt will be posted to you.
If you request a tax invoice prior to payment, please allow a week for this to be provided to you.
If you are making a payment from outside Australia, the intermediary bank might charge a fee. It is your responsibility to ensure that the full AUD$1,500 is transferred as payment of the WELS registration application fee. Any bank fees will need to be paid by you in addition to the $1,500.
If you would like any further information, please contact WELS at WELS@environment.gov.au or on 1800 803 772.
Electronic payments
Transmit payments to:
Account Name: DEWHA
Bank: Reserve Bank of Australia
Bank Address: 20-22 London Circuit Canberra ACT 2600
BSB: 092 009
A/c No: 115859
Currency: Australian Dollars
Sort/Swift Code: RSBKAU2S
Credit card payments
Please phone 1800 803 772 to make a credit card payment.
N.B. Only Visa or MasterCard are accepted.
You will need to provide:
- the relevant WELS Record ID number/s (5 digits)
- your business name and postal address
- the name and telephone number of the person authorising payment
- type of credit card: Visa or MasterCard
- card number
- 3 digit security code (last 3 numbers on reverse side of card)
- card expiry date and
- name of card holder.
Cheques
Cheques should be made out to the Collector of Public Monies and posted to:
Collector of Public Monies
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
PO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Make sure you include the WELS Record ID number with your payment.
Registration of a product
When your application to register a product has been successful, it will be registered by a notice published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Government Notices and you will receive email notification when this has occurred. Registration of a WELS product is usually for five years. The water efficiency labelling information of the product will also appear in the WELS Registration and Product search database.
Registered products database
Find the water consumption and star ratings details for a range of products that carry a water rating label.
Search the Registration and Product search database
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window