G/TBT/N/AUS/76  
 
11 June 2013  
(13-3027)  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:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:   
Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism 
GPO Box 1564 
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia 
Tel.:  +61 2 6276 1000 
E-mail:  ret@ret.gov.au  
 
Name and address (including telephon e 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 :   
TBT Enquiry Point 
Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia 
Tel.:  +61 2 6261 1202 
E-mail:  TBT.Enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
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):  Gas Water 
Heaters (HS Code: 8419.11 or 8419.19; ICS Codes: 91.140.10, 91.140.65). 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:  Greenhouse and 
Energy Minimum Standards (Gas Water Heater) Determination 2013 (9 pages, in English).    
6. Description of content:   
Note:  this Determination is for a product that was previously regulated by the states 
and territories as part of the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Program. This Determination simply transitions existing requirements from state and territory 
legislation to nationally-consistent legislation. No new products have been regulated in 
this process, nor have new requirements b een imposed or new test standards adopted. 
Under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act 2012 , the Australian 
Government can set mandatory minimum effi ciency performance standards (MEPS) and 
energy rating label (ERL) requirements for el ectrical equipment and appliance products.  
These requirements are set out in legislative instruments called GEMS determinations.  
Technical requirements for MEPS and ERLs are set out in the relevant Australian 
Standards, which are published by Standards Australia.  G/TBT/N/AUS/76 
 
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  Under the GEMS Act, if a product is:  
- covered by a GEMS determination; - manufactured in or imported into Australia; and 
- made available for sale on or after the date that the relevant GEMS Determination 
enters into force, then this product must meet the requirements set out in the relevant Determination.  
The Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Gas Water Heaters) Determination 
2013 establishes minimum energy efficiency and product performance requirements, and 
associated requirements for conducting tests, for gas water heaters. 
Standards for gas water heaters called up in the Determination are: 
- Australian Standard  AS 4552-2005 - Gas fired water heaters for hot water supply 
and/or central heating;  
- Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard  AS/NZS 4552.2:2010 -  Gas fired water 
heaters for hot water supply and/or central heating - Part 2: Minimum energy 
performance standards for gas water heaters.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:   
The objectives of the GEMS Act are to:  
- drive greater energy efficiency for regulated products; and  
- ensure that consumers can make informed choices to improve energy efficiency 
and reduce energy consumption, energy  costs and greenhouse gas emissions. 
The legislation also gives effect to commitments made under the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 
8. Relevant documents:    
The relevant Standards are available from Standards Australia at: 
- http://infostore.saiglobal.com/s tore2/Details.aspx?ProductID=316099   
- http://infostore.saiglobal.com/s tore2/Details.aspx?ProductID=1444315    
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    3 May 2013  3 May 2013  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from date of notification  
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:    
The text of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 can be found at: http://www.comlaw.gov .au/Details/C2012A00132    
The text of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Gas Water Heaters) 
Determination 2013 can be found at: 
http://www.comlaw.gov .au/Details /F2013L00729