How to meet your obligations as a retailer

If you sell, hire, lease, or provide hire purchase of a product covered by energy using product regulations, you have legal obligations to meet the relevant requirements.

  • Know your obligations

    Get familiar with the regulations and how they apply. 

    Jump to regulations

  • Steps to comply

    Follow the steps to comply as a retailer in New Zealand.

    Jump to steps

  • Check exemptions

    Find out if you're exempt from any of the requirements.

    Jump to exemptions

  • Labelling requirements

    Check which products need Energy Rating Labels.

    Jump to labelling

Your obligations as a retailer 

Before you start, make sure you're familiar with the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 and check which requirements apply to you. There are different rules for retailers, importers, and manufacturers.  

Find out more about the E3 programme

Steps to compliance for retailers

It is your responsibility to check that your products meet the relevant performance requirements and where required, are labeled correctly. 

Steps

  • Step 1 – Check your products are regulated

    Products regulated for energy efficiency must meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and Mandatory Energy Performance Labelling (MEPL) requirements. 

    Find out which products are regulated  

  • Step 2 – Check your products are compliant

    Regulated products may be subject to Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). As a retailer, it's your responsibility to ask your supplier for the information to confirm that their products meet the applicable New Zealand requirements. 

    Find out which requirements apply

  • Step 3 – label your products correctly

    There are 7 product categories that have Mandatory Energy Performance Labeling (MEPL) requirements in the form of displaying an Energy Rating Label. As a retailer, it’s your responsibility to make sure the label is correctly displayed in store and supplied with the product.  

    Your guide to labelling  [PDF 742 KB]

  • Step 4 – Consider online labelling

    There is no legal requirement to include Energy Rating Label information online. However, we recommend you display the product’s star rating and annual energy consumption to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.  

    You can obtain a digital version of the full label from your supplier.  

  • Check if an exemption or other arrangement applies

    Specific arrangements may change the requirements. These include if you are selling second-hand products that have been used by a consumer in New Zealand, a Minimal quantities exemption, and the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement. Check the relevant criteria before relying on an exemption. 

    Minimal quantities exemptions 

    Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement

next step

About Energy Rating Labels

There are 7 product categories in New Zealand that must have Energy Rating Labels displayed correctly when they are offered for sale. 
 
Energy Rating Labels make it easy for consumers to compare how much energy similar household appliances use, and how much they cost to run - before they purchase them.  

Find out about the labels 

  • Need some help? 

    Contact us with any questions about compliance with energy using product regulations.  

    Contact us