Refrigerated Cabinets Determination – Exposure Draft

In November 2017, the COAG Energy Council agreed to implement the recommendations contained in the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement: Refrigerated display and storage cabinets.
Accordingly, implementation is underway to introduce tighter minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for refrigerated display cabinets, and introduce MEPS for storage cabinets and ice cream freezers adopting international test standards for all affected models.
The proposed changes are designed to reduce commercial energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and also reduce the regulatory burden on industry by adopting an international test standard used by many of our major trading partners.
In Australia, the energy efficiency of refrigeration cabinets is regulated through the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Display Cabinets) Determination 2012(link is external) under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012(link is external). It is proposed to revoke that determination and introduce the changes detailed below in a replacement determination. An exposure draft of the proposed replacement determination has been prepared and stakeholder comments are being sought.
In New Zealand, the relevant legislation is the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002(link is external) (the New Zealand Regulations). The New Zealand Government is proposing to adopt changes to its Regulations to align with the replacement Determination.

What are the new requirements?

No earlier than January 2020, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of refrigerated cabinets sold in Australia and New Zealand will need to ensure that their products:

• have been tested to the relevant European standards to determine their energy consumption
• have been registered on the Energy Rating website
• do not exceed the prescribed levels for energy consumption

Broadly speaking, these requirements will apply to refrigerated display cabinets, refrigerated drinks cabinets; ice cream freezer cabinets; ice cream scooping cabinets; and refrigerated storage cabinets.
Exclusions will apply for refrigerated vending machines, icemakers, and cabinets that are designed for food processing as well as storage.

Key documents

• Exposure Draft – Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Cabinets) Determination 2018
• Companion Document – Consultation on Legal Requirements for Refrigerated Display and Storage Cabinets

Submissions

The closing date for written submissions is 5pm AEDT Friday 14 December 2018. Submissions should include ‘Refrigerated Cabinets Determination’ in the subject line and be sent via email to:
Australia: energyrating@environment.gov.au(link sends e-mail)
New Zealand: regs@eeca.govt.nz(link sends e-mail)

Proposed Outcomes

It is proposed that the requirements of the replacement Determination will come into force no earlier than January 2020.