InkWELS - May 2007
Department of the Environment and Water Resources, May 2007
Welcome
Welcome to the second edition of InkWELS. Since the last edition, there has been a number of changes made to the WELS Standard — AS/NZS 6400:2005 Water efficient products—Rating and labelling,and the WELS Team have made improvements to the on-line registration process and the product search database.
To make sure you’re up to date on all the latest WELS developments, read on.
Getting even better
In December 2006, amendments to the WELS Standard were finalised to help clarify which water performance parameters are required to attain WELS registration.
The amendments were made in Amendment 3 to the WELS Standard, which can be downloaded free-of-charge from www.saiglobal.com
The consolidated WELS Standard (that contains all the amendments) is no longer available free as an attachment to the WELS Determination. You will need to buy it from Standards Australia via SAI Global www.saiglobal.com .
Changes to the on‑line registration process
You may have already noticed a number of changes to the on‑line registration process. These improvements are making the process for registering WELS products smoother and helping to reduce errors. The main changes to the on‑line registration system include:
- requiring the test report(s) and sample label to be up-loaded;
- changes to how you enter information into the water consumption fields; and
- some fields are now mandatory and your application cannot be submitted until they are completed.
Other changes are currently being planned to further improve the process, including the automatic generation of invoices.
Product search database
The product search database has been improved so you can now search for clothes washing machines that include a drying function ( commonly known as washer/dryers).
A comprehensive listing of water rebating authorities is now available on the Water Services Association of Australia website. These authorities can provide advice on local rebate schemes. The WELS website provides a direct link to these authorities at search.waterrating.com.au.
Compliance issues
The WELS Team regularly receives allegations, via telephone or email, about retailers who have displayed un-labelled products in brochures, newspaper advertisements, websites and in-store.
Every allegation is assessed and appropriate action taken in accordance with the Department of the Environment and Water Resources' Compliance and Enforcement Policy and Compliance and Enforcement Policy Strategy. These documents areavailable on-line at www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/compliancepolicy.html .
Some of these allegations have resulted in Compliance Management Agreements being entered into.; These Agreements set out activities that must be completed by specified dates, any conditions that must be complied with, and reporting requirements.
In addition to assessing and responding to allegations, the WELS Team is building its Australia -wide enforcement capacity in relation to monitoring, infringement notices, enforceable undertakings and injunctions.
Shower efficiency
Progress on a force of spray test to help rate low flow showers is being made, although its development has been more time-consuming than originally thought. We will be in contact with registration holders of 3 star + showers (i.e. those with flows < 7.5 l/min) later in 2007.
InkWELS is produced periodically to provide information about the WELS Scheme generally. InkWELS is of a general nature only and is not intended to replace detailed information contained in the WELS Standard—AS/NZS 6400:2005 Water efficient products—Rating and labelling. All InkWELS are posted on the WELS website at www.waterrating.gov.au/publications/index.html. Please forward InkWELS to anyone you think may find it useful and encourage them to register to receive updates at www.waterrating.gov.au
If you do not wish to receive emails regarding the WELS Scheme, please send an email to WELS@environment.gov.au.
For more information about any of the information in this publication contact:
Water Efficiency Team
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
WELS@environment.gov.au
www.waterrating.gov.au
Free call 1800 803 772
© Commonwealth of Australia 2007
Information contained in this publication may be copied or reproduced for study, research, information or educational purposes, subject to inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
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