Energy Rating Label - What Retailers Need To Know
Supplying a product?
Know your obligations.
If you are a retailer or tradie and supply a product in Australia and New Zealand that is regulated for energy efficiency, you have legal obligations to ensure that these products are registered, and if required by the legislation, that Energy Rating Labels are displayed at point of sale.
For further information:
Register a product and get more information
Search the Registration database
If you're a retailer or tradie selling or supplying products regulated for energy efficiency - always make sure they are registered or you could be subject to compliance and enforcement actions under GEMS legislation. It's easy to find out, use the online registration database to search all registered products.
Register a product
If you plan to sell or supply a regulated product in Australia, it must be registered first. If you've checked the database and it isn't registered - or the registration has expired or been cancelled - you need to complete an application with the Australian Government GEMS regulator.
Displaying the Energy Rating Label
Understand your legal requirements
Some products require an Energy Rating Label (ERL) to be displayed when they are sold in stores. If you are a retailer supplying these products, there are legal obligations about how the ERL is displayed. Labelling requirements are contained in the relevant GEMS determination which specifies the ERL design and placement on the appliance.
In general, the ERL must be clearly visible on the front of the product, preferably on the upper front, or if that is not possible, on the top of the product.
ERLs must not be:
- covered by promotional material, including price stickers or brand promotions
- covered with other stickers or labels (such as product barcodes)
- marked (e.g. written on with texta/marker pens)
- faded or damaged.
ERLs can be in one of the following formats:
- self-adhesive label
- double-sided swing tag
- static cling label
- single-sided non-rotating tag.
Lost or damaged ERLs
If an ERL is lost or damaged, contact your product supplier to get a new label for the product. You may be able to print an interim ERL (as long as it meets the required format and layout) while you wait for the new one to arrive. Alternatively, the product should be removed from display until you receive the new ERL. You may find some ERLs are difficult to keep attached to the product. If this is the case, provide feedback to your product supplier as they may be able to consider a different adhesive method in the future.
Compliance
GEMS inspectors conduct market surveillance across Australia to ensure models of products meet GEMS registration and labelling requirements once in the marketplace. Results are published in Market Surveillance reports, and specific results can be provided to retail chain head offices to assist with targeting education resources if required.
Online and print advertising
It is not mandatory to display an ERL when selling products online, or when advertising (online and print). However, you may use the Energy Rating Icon which is a simpler version of the ERL. It helps provide information to potential customers about the energy rating of products before they make their final purchase decision. You should note that the ERL and Icon are trademarked images belonging to the Commonwealth of Australia. If you are a supplier or retailer wanting to use the icon on a regulated product online or in printed material, you do not need to seek permission.
The Energy Rating Label
How to use the Energy Rating Label
Selling labelled appliances? Learn how to use the Energy Rating Label to compare the energy efficiency and running costs of models so you can help your customers invest in a product that saves energy, reduces emissions and is cheap to run.
Using the label online and in advertising
Selling, supplying or advertising appliances? Learn how to use the Energy Rating Icon on your website and in advertisements.
Labelling
The E3 Program oversees labelling to ensure consumers have information on the energy efficiency of a product. Products are labelled so that the information is available at the point-of-sale.
This allows consumers to take into account how much an appliance will cost to run, when deciding which model to buy.
Compliance
Compliance policy
The GEMS Compliance Policy outlines the principles adopted by the GEMS Regulator to maximise compliance with the GEMS Act
Market surveillance
Market surveillance refers to activities undertaken by GEMS inspectors to ensure that models of GEMS products meet GEMS registration and labelling requirements once in the marketplace.
Legislation
The specific requirements for each product regulated under the GEMS Act — including Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and Energy Rating Labelling (ERL) requirements — are set out in a further legislative instrument specific to that product type called a GEMS Determination.
Compliance Requirements
On this page you can find information about your GEMS Compliance Requirements.
Report non-compliance
If you would like to contact the GEMS Regulator with information about suspected non-compliance please contact us.