Domestic fridges and freezers
To be sold in New Zealand, fridges and freezer must meet minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and energy rating labelling requirements.
If you're an importer, manufacturer, retailer or seller of an affected product, this page tells you what you need to know.
Which products are affected
Check out scope and exclusions for domestic fridges and freezers.
How to meet the regulatory requirements
If you import, manufacture or sell fridges or freezer affected by the MEPS, there are regulatory requirements you must meet under the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002.
For manufacturers and importers, this means checking your products meet the standards, registering your products, labelling your products, and providing annual sales data to EECA.
- Find out more about the steps for importers and manufacturers.
- Go straight to product registration on the energy rating website.
For retailers, this means ensuring that the products you're carrying are legal for sale.
- Find out more about steps for retailers.
Note on labelling requirements
It is a legal requirement that labels are affixed when affected fridge and freezer appliances are displayed for sale.
Refrigerators delivered directly to customers need not display a label but must contain a label (and instructions for application) within or on the packaging.
Which standards apply
Regulations require new fridges and freezers to comply with relevant standards prior to being listed as available for sale. The energy performance standards that apply to fridges and freezers are:
- Part 1 of the Standard: AS/NZS 4474.1:2007 including Amendments 1 and 2
- Part 2 of the Standard: AS/NZS 4474.2:2009 including Amendment 1
Standards are available from Standards New Zealand.
Revised MEPS and labelling from 9 June 2011
From 9 June 2011, fridges and freezers are required to meet revised minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and labelling requirements.
The key changes, described in more detail below, are:
- Changes to the energy rating calculation.
- Changes to the energy rating label.
The revisions encourage ongoing improvements to product efficiency and allow customers to better identify efficient models.
Registrations must also meet the requirements of the amendments to the MEPS for fridges and freezers AS/NZS 4474.1 A2, AS/NZS 4474.2 A1. Note that any products listed to the old MEPS, but imported after 9 June 2011, will need to re-list them to the new MEPS and use new labels.
Changes to the energy rating calculation
Under the revisions, a new algorithm for calculating energy ratings decreases current star ratings by about 2 stars. This is designed to encourage greater efficiency at the higher star ratings and enable consumers to better differentiate between products.
The algorithm also allows for energy ratings of up to ten stars, to help consumers identify "super-efficient" products.
The revised algorithm requirements are available in the Standard AS/NZS 4474.2: 2009, which is available from Standards New Zealand.
Changes to the energy rating label
A change to the labelling reflects the changes to the algorithm. Star ratings on labels for new models will be dialled back by about 2 stars to encourage greater efficiency at the higher star ratings. For example, a 6-star model on the current label could become a 4-star model on the new label.
Because refrigeration technology is improving every year, a new "crown" for super efficient models is also available. Models using the new label, which exceed the 6 star energy rating, can show an additional 7 to 10 stars.
The revised label requirements are available in the Standard AS/NZS 4474.2: 2009, which is available from Standards New Zealand.
New energy rating label with crown
Download a fact sheet on the new energy rating labels.
Other changes
The definition of MEPS will change from a model average energy to a maximum permitted energy, and a reduction in the check testing tolerance from 10% to 7.5% (in order to improve reported energy consumption claims).
ENERGY STAR®
The ENERGY STAR mark on whiteware and other home appliances - including fridges and freezers. This voluntary, international endorsement mark enables consumers to identify which models are the most energy efficient.
Check out more about ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR Partners for product listings and more information.
