WELS is Australia’s water efficiency labelling scheme that requires certain products to be registered and labelled with their water efficiency in accordance with the standard set under the WELS Act.
A five yearly statutory review of the WELS scheme and its associated legislation has been brought forward to begin in late 2014. The 2015 WELS Scheme Review will examine the effectiveness and appropriateness of the scheme in delivering the objectives of the WELS Act, as well as further opportunities to streamline requirements and reduce red-tape for stakeholders. Submissions are invited on the WELS Review Discussion Paper consultation period closes Friday 6 February 2015.
The WELS Act is supported by complementary legislation in all States and Territories and is administered by the Commonwealth on behalf of all Australian Governments.
The WELS Regulator is established by the WELS Act and is responsible for the administration of the WELS Scheme.
Products currently requiring registration are:
- showers
- tap equipment over a basin (excluding bath and shower taps)
- flow controllers
- toilet (lavatory) equipment
- urinal equipment
- clothes washing machines
- dishwashers
The WELS Advisory Group has also been reconstituted for the duration of the review in order to provide a dedicated stakeholder group to advise the Reviewer.
CFA Standards Project has a representative on the Standards Australia Technical Committee WS-032 Water efficient appliances which is currently revising the standard AS/NZS 6400 Water efficient products rating and labelling which forms a basis for the rating and labelling of a range of products under the mandatory WELS Scheme.