G/TBT/N/SGP/60  
8 April 2021  
(21-2912) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  SINGAPORE   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  PUB, The National Water Agency  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  1) Front 
and top load washer ex tractors 2) Undercounter and hood dishwashers 3) High pressure 
washers National tariff headings (HS): 1) 8451.40.00, 2) 8422.19.00, 3) 8424.30  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Annex - Draft 
Public Utilities (Water Supply ) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, 8 pages, English - Notice 
will be published in the Republic of Singapore's Government Gazette when adopted.  
6. Description of content:  Under Singapore's Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling 
Scheme (MWELS), minimum water efficiency requirements have been mandated for 
commonly used water fittings and appliances since 2009, with a view to helping 
consumers make informed purchasing decisions , and encouraging suppliers to introduce 
more water -efficient products into the market.  
In line with the MWELS, the following minimum water efficiency requirements will be 
mandated for three types of commonly used commercial appliances from 1 Jan 2022 
onwa rds: 
a) ≤ 8.0 litres of water per kilogram for front and top load washer extractors (other than 
those for household use);  
b) ≤ 2.4 litres of water per rack for undercounter and hood dishwashers (other than those 
for household use); and  
c) ≤ 11.0 litres of water per minute for high pressure washers (other than those for: (i) 
household use; (ii) steam cleaning or hot water pressure washing; (iii) washing 
equipment or vehicles; (iv) specialised cleaning and work; (v) sandblasting).  
For these three ty pes of commercial appliances, only models which meet the minimum 
water efficiency requirements will allowed to be offered, displayed or advertised for sale 
or supply in Singapore. Accordingly, the models will need to be registered under the 
MWELS before th ey can be offered, displayed or advertised for sale or supply in Singapore. 
However, no labelling requirements or tick -ratings will be imposed on these three types 
of commercial appliances. In order to register under the MWELS, these models must be 
tested according to the standards stipulated in the Public Utilities (Water Supply) 
Regulations, which will be amended to mandate water efficiency requirements and G/TBT/N/SGP/60  
 
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  stipulate test standards and/or methods for these three types of commercial appliances. 
The amendme nt will take effect from 1 January 2022.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Water consumption in the non -domestic sector accounts for about 45% of 
total water use in Singapore, and is estimated to increas e to about 60% in the long term. 
To promote water conservation in the non -domestic sector, Singapore currently adopts a 
range of measures such as the mandatory submission of Water Efficiency Management 
Plans for large water users, incentive schemes to faci litate water efficiency projects, as 
well as the publication of water efficiency benchmarks and best practice guides. However, 
more regulatory measures are needed to make further progress in water conservation 
and ensure sustainable water use in the non -domestic sector. Therefore, minimum water 
efficiency requirements will be mandated on the abovementioned three types of 
commonly used commercial appliances. Only models that meet the minimum water 
efficiency requirements will be allowed to be offered, displa yed or advertised for sale or 
supply in Singapore.  
8. Relevant documents:   
Draft Public Utilities (Water Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, 8 pages, English - 
Notice will be published in the Republic of Singapore's Government Gazette when 
adopted.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Notice will be published prior to the date of entry into force.  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 January 2022  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
1. Tan Kai Rong  
Senior Engineer  
Water Supply (Network) Department  
PUB Singapore  
40 Scotts  Road #15 -01 Environment Building Singapore 228231  
Republic of Singapore  
tel: (65) 9744 0299  
e-mail: tan_kai_rong@pub.gov.sg   
 
2. Veronica Koh  
Senior Executive  
Water and Food Policy Division  
Ministry of Sus tainability and the Environment  
40 Scotts Road #24 -00 Environment Building Singapore 228231  
Republic of Singapore  
tel : (65) 9879 8268  
e-mail: veronica_koh@mse.gov.sg