New Zealand - Minimum Energy Performance and Labelling Requirements for Air Conditioners

​New Zealand notified the proposed changes to the current minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) and labelling requirements for air conditioners in G/TBT/N/NZL/78 under article 2.9.2 of the TBT.

Minimum energy performance and labelling requirements have been adopted in the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002. The instrument was gazetted on 17 December 2020 and commenced on that day. The minimum energy performance and labelling requirements for air conditioners enter into force on 1 July 2021.

Objectives of the amendments:

- Alignment of standards and regulation with New Zealand’s major trading partner, Australia, and with international standards.
- Ensuring improvements in product technologies are available on the New Zealand market, which will lead to increased productivity and lower energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Ensuring that consumers are better informed about energy-using products so that they can make informed decisions that reduce their overall energy costs;
- Contributing to the government’s priority “Efficient use of energy” under the New Zealand Energy Strategy 2011-2021.
- Contributing to the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2050.