For Industry
Clothes washing machines
Overview
Clothes washing machines are a large investment for consumers, not only in the upfront purchase price, but also in ongoing running costs. The Energy Rating Label helps consumers make informed choices by allowing them to compare energy efficiency and running costs across different models.
At a Glance
To fully understand legislative requirements, registrants should review the 2024 determination and its Explanatory Statement. They can be accessed from the Federal Registration of Legislation using the link in the table below.
| Determination | Minimum Energy Performance Standards | Energy Rating Label |
|---|---|---|
|
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Clothes Washing Machines) Determination 2024 Commenced 4 October 2025 |
Yes | Yes |
The determination:
- creates minimum energy performance standards for clothes washing machines
- updates the testing and labelling requirements
- introduces new Australian and New Zealand standards.
Suppliers can continue to sell existing registered models. These requirements take effect when a model needs to be registered for sale in Australia.
Legislation
In Australia, this product is regulated under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012.
In New Zealand, the relevant legislation is the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002. New Zealand has different requirements. Visit Clothes washers on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority website for more information.
What products are and not covered
-
Covered
Products covered by the new determination include:
- household top loading non-drum type washers (usually impeller or agitator that are not a drum type)
- front and top loading drum type washers
- multi-compartment clothes washing machines (for example, twin tubs)
- the washer function of combination washer/dryer units (washer dryer combos).
Refer to section 7 of the determination for more details.
-
Not covered
The determination does not cover clothes washing machines:
- that have a rated load capacity of less than 1kg of clothes, regardless of warm/cold wash types
- with a rated load capacity of less than or equal to 2kg for all textile materials with no connections to a mains water supply and no pump or other means for extracting water
- that are only capable of being used for cold wash operations and have
- no provision for internal water heating
- a single water connection marked only for cold water
- automatic fill control
- no program that indicates (directly or indirectly) that a program other than a cold wash program is possible
- a user manual that explicitly states it is only suitable for cold washing operations
- no associated product literature that states it is suitable for anything other than cold washing operations.
Refer to section 7 of the determination for more details.
Technical requirements
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Standards
The following information has been updated to reflect the commencement of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Clothes Washing Machines Determination—Changes to Incorporated Instrument) Declaration (No. 1) 2025. The determination references:
- AS/NZS 2040.1:2021 Performance of household electrical appliances - Clothes washing machines, Part 1: Methods for measuring performance, energy and water consumption. The version of this standard that applies is the version that included Amendment 1 which was published on 25 July 2025.
- AS/NZS 2040.2:2021 Performance of household electrical appliances - Clothes washing machines, Part 2: Energy efficiency labelling requirements. The version of this standard that applies is the version that existed when the determination came into force.
-
Minimum Standards
The determination creates minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), specified in section 8 of the determination.
The MEPS are not expected to result in any model being forced from the market.
-
Testing your product
The following information has been updated to reflect the commencement of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Clothes Washing Machines Determination—Changes to Incorporated Instrument) Declaration (No. 1) 2025.
Make sure you match the test report with the registration application you make.
The determination requires clothes washing machines to be tested in accordance with AS/NZS 2040.1:2021 Performance of household electrical appliances - Clothes washing machines, Part 1: Methods for measuring performance, energy and water consumption. The bleach in the testing detergent can be either sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate tetrahydrate.
In some cases, a test report to the earlier version of the standard could be used as evidence of testing. Test reports to AS/NZS 2040.1:2005, up to and including amendment 3, could be accepted if all requirements are met and the testing:
- was conducted at a supply test voltage of 230V
- used the detergent for drum type machines (the IEC detergent)
- for multi-compartment clothes washing machines, the test report could only be used if:
- the multiple compartments can only be operated together, or
- where the compartments can be operated independently, separate testing was conducted for each compartment to allow energy labelling calculations to be performed for each compartment and
- if the model has a rated capacity over 10kg, applications will need to confirm that testing followed the test load make up and numbers of swatches set out in the 2015 determination.
-
Other
Clothes washing machines must meet the performance requirements mentioned in:
- Section 3.2 of AS/NZS 2442.2:2000 (Drying Clothes in a Single Operation)
- Section 3.3 of AS/NZS 2442.2:2000 (Maximum Fabric Temperature).
Labelling requirements
The Energy Rating Label has changed and you must display the new:
- base Energy Rating Label used for models that meet 6 or below star ratings in half star rating increments
- super-efficiency Energy Rating Label used for models that meet 7 or above star ratings in full star rating increments.
The determination incorporates information on the Energy Rating Label and how the label is displayed.
Labelling transition
Models that were previously registered against the old 2015 determination can apply transitional arrangements to labelling for the remainder of the registration period. This means that some models may display either the new or the old label. Only one label should be displayed on any one product.
If a model is selected for check testing, the laboratory will test the product to the standards quoted on the energy rating label affixed to the purchased product. Market Surveillance will continue to check that the label on the product matches the registration record, and that the product is correctly registered.
Program Time
Energy Rating Labels for clothes washing machines must include ‘Program Time’, which is the time the product requires to complete the program used to measure its energy performance.
Displaying the Label
Products on display must include a label on the packaging, or if it is displayed outside the packaging, it should be applied on the model.
In each case, the Energy Rating Label must be clearly visible either printed on, adhered to, or be part of the packaging. If adhered to the packaging, then it can be attached by a double-sided swing tag or non-rotating single sided swing tag.
Need more help?
More information about the labelling requirements can be found in the determination and the standard, Performance of household electrical appliances - Clothes washing machines, Part 2: Energy efficiency labelling requirements – AS/NZS 2040.2:2021.
See Labelling for general labelling information and resources.
Models registered to the 2015 determination
Existing registrations have been updated in the Energy Rating Registration system to be registered against the 2024 determination. Registrants don’t need to do anything, and the registration will retain its remaining period of registration.