Domestic fridges and freezers - regulations under review

Regulations have been amended

EECA and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have now amended the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 to increase the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and introduce new Mandatory Energy Performance Labelling (MEPL) requirements for household refrigerating appliances. These changes will come into force on 1 May 2026.

View the Amendment Regulations(external link)

This amendment is to align the New Zealand requirements with the Australian Government’s Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Household Refrigerating Appliances) Determination 2019. However, the transition to the new MEPL requirements is different.

View the Australian Determination(external link)

Please note that:

Household refrigerating appliances manufactured in New Zealand or imported prior to 1 May 2026 can legally be supplied without meeting these Amendment Regulations requirements but must meet the pre-amendment Regulations requirements.
Household refrigerating appliances manufactured in New Zealand, or imported from 1 May 2026, must meet the Amendment Regulations requirements before they can be supplied. This includes meeting the increased MEPS requirements, new MEPL requirements, and being registered to the new requirements.
During the transition period (Until 1 May 2026) household refrigerating appliances can voluntarily meet the new MEPS and MEPL requirements.

View the requirements

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Regulatory requirements under review
Have your say about product energy efficiency regulations being revised and developed in New Zealand.

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  At the end of 2024, the Australian Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council, agreed to introduce new minimum energy performance requirements for chillers.
- Domestic fridges and freezers
  Find out about the current regulation amendment process for household refrigerating appliances in New Zealand.
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Fridges & freezers (domestic)

Regulations have been amended

Decision Regulation Impact Statement - November 2017

Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – April 2017