G/TBT/N/SGP/41  
 
5 December 2017  
(17-6690) 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 Singapore (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:   
Addressed to:  
1. Tan Kah Kyee  
Principal Engineer  
Water Supply (Network) Department  
PUB Singapore  
40 Scotts Road #10 -01 Environment Building Singapore 228231  
Republic of Singapore  
tel : (65) 6731 3669 fax : (65) 6731 3023  
e-mail: PUB_Waterfittings@pub.gov.sg  
Copying:  
2. Wilson Lin  
Senior Assistant Director  
Water Policy Division  
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources  
40 Scotts Road #24 -00 Environment Building Singapore 228231  
Republic of Singapore  
tel : (65) 6731 9292 fax : (65) 6731 9456  
e-mail: MEWR -WPD-Perf@mewr.gov.sg  
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): 
Dishwashers Intended for Household Use . National tariff headings: HS 8422.11.0 0 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft Public 
Utilities (Water Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (4 page(s), in English)   
6. Description of content: Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations will be amended to 
require dishwashers intended for household use that are supplied or offered, displayed, or 
advertised for supply in Singapore to be registered and affixed with water efficiency labels 
from 1 Oct 2018.  
Singapore's Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (Mandatory WELS) was 
introduced in 2009 to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and 
encourage suppliers to introduce more water efficient products into the market.  G/TBT/N/SGP/41  
 
- 2 - 
 
  This scheme will be extended to include dishwashers with effect from 1 Oct 2018. Import 
of dishwashers to Singapore is still allowed with the implementation of the Mandatory 
WELS for dishwashers, but all dishwashers intended for household use must be registered 
and labelle d to provide information on their water efficiency level before they can be 
supplied or offered, displayed, or advertised for supply in Singapore. In order to register, 
the appliances must be tested according to the stipulated standards (Clause 8.2 of 
BS EN 50242: 2016/BS EN 60436: 2016 or Clause 8.2 of IEC 60436: 2015), which would 
be used to determine their water consumption efficiency.  
Dishwashers in Singapore will be rated with minimum 1 -tick, 2 -ticks, 3 -ticks or 4 -ticks 
water efficiency rating, with 4 -ticks being the most water efficient. There is no model 
currently in the Singapore market which uses more water than the 1 -tick model. Our 
stipulated standards (Clause 8.2 of BS EN 50242: 2016/BS EN 60436: 2016 or Clause 8.2 
of IEC 60436: 2015) to measure water consumption of dishwashers will be similar to what 
has been adopted in other countries. Based on sales data from 2012 to 2014 as well as a 
recent check with major suppliers, the rating scale of the Mandatory WELS for dishwashers 
intended for househol d use and the number of dishwasher models available in Singapore 
for each of the water efficiency rating bands is tabulated below:  
 Water Efficiency Rating Requirements  
WELS Rating  1-tick 2-ticks 3-ticks 4-ticks 
Water  Efficiency 
Range in Litres Per 
Place Setting  >1.2 to 1.5 
Litres  >0.9 to 1.2 
Litres  >0.6 to 0.9 
Litres  0.6 litres or 
less 
Number of dishwasher 
model s in the 
Singapore market 
which meets the 
proposed water 
efficiency ratings  9 38 43 15 
 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: As part of Singapore 's effort in water conservation, to provide information on 
water efficiency of dishwashers intended for household use to consumers via labels.  
Based on a  market survey commissioned by PUB in 1Q 2016, the number of dishwashers 
sold in Singapore has gradually increased from 1,897 units in 2012 to 2,253 units in 2014. 
Although the number of dishwashers for household use in Singapore is still small, more 
peopl e are likely to use dishwashers in future (i.e. from 3.6 units per 10,000 population in 
2012 to 4.1 units per 10,000 population in 2014). The introduction of Mandatory WELS for 
dishwashers would also help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions. PUB 
will continue its regular review of water efficiency standards for dishwashers to ensure that 
these standards keep pace with latest market developments and internationally -recognised 
best practices.  
8. Relevant documents:  Draft Public Utilities (Water  Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 
2018, 4 pages, English . Notice will also 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 October 2018  
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:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/TBT/SGP/17_5411_00_e.pdf