Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards
(WELS) Scheme

Consultation whitegoods regulation impact statement

Minimum water efficiency standards for clothes washers and dishwashers and water efficiency labelling of combined washer/dryers
Prepared for Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts by
George Wilkenfeld and Associates, September 2008

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The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts asked organisations and individuals to give their views on the consultation Regulation Impact Statement: Minimum water efficiency standards for clothes washers and dishwashers and water efficiency labelling of combined washer/dryers.

The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts administers the national Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme in partnership with the state and territory governments.

The WELS scheme currently mandates registration and water efficiency labelling of clothes washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, urinals, taps and showers, with flow controllers optional.

However, with the exception of toilets, there is no minimum standard for these products, which means that inefficient, high water-using products may still be sold to the public.

The consultation RIS assesses the regulatory impacts, including the costs and benefits of setting minimum water efficiency standards for clothes washers and dishwashers to improve the water efficiency of these products. It also assesses the case for introducing a WELS label and minimum standard for the dryer component of combination washer dryers that use water in dryer-mode and stand-alone dryers that use water. On the basis of this assessment the consultation RIS recommends that Australian Governments agree to proceed with these proposals.

Public consultation period has now closed

The public consultation period closed 23 January 2009.

All feedback received during the public consultation period will be taken into consideration, under the oversight of the Australian Government Office of Best Practice Regulation, in the preparation of a final regulation impact statement. The final regulation impact statement and any recommended actions will then be considered for decision by Ministers on the Environment Protection and Heritage Council.

Transition arrangements

Should the proposal proceed to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and Ministers agree to its implementation, it is proposed that industry would have six months notice from Ministerial decision before registration under the new arrangements would commence. A further 12 months from that time would be given before all products on sale would be required to meet the new labelling arrangements and minimum standards.

For further information on Australian Government best practice regulation, visit www.finance.gov.au/obpr

For further information on the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, visit www.ephc.gov.au

Cover of Consultation whitegoods regulation impact statement Water rating symbol

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