https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Compulsory energy efficiency labelling for audio equipment and kitchen appliances

16th January 2015

By: Riaan de Lange

  

Font size: - +

I wanted to start this article with a reference to Eskom, but I simply do not have the energy. Electricity is considered a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles, either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current. The current challenge (no pun intended) of its generation has become a daily reality to us all.

Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies has declared compulsory specifications for energy efficiency and the labelling of electrical and electronic apparatus in terms of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, 2008, as published in the Government Gazette of November 28. The compulsory specification was published in terms of Section 13(1) of the Act. The Government Gazette makes reference to regulation VC 9008, which does not form part of the notice, but is available on the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications of South Africa (NRCS) website – www.nrcs.org.za. The Minister first published the notice for comment in the Government Gazette of February 7, 2014, and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) notified its members on February 14, 2014.

The Government Gazette notice consists of seven sections and two annexes, namely: (1) scope, (2) definitions, (3) general requirements, (4) specific requirements, (5) equivalence of standards, (6) conformity to referenced standards, (7) evidence of conformity, (A.1) application for approval, and (A.2) approval.

Have you ever heard of the NRCS or do you know what it does? Surely, all importers, their agents, and manufacturers must be aware of its existence. The NRCS was established by means of an Act (assented to on July 1, 2008) and is responsible for the administration and maintenance of compulsory specifications in the interest of public safety and health and for environmental protection. In terms of the Act, the NRCS has to ensure compliance with compulsory speci- fications. The Act provides for sanctions for noncompliance.

If you are involved in the importation and manufacture of the following products, you would be well advised to familiarise yourelf with the Government Gazette notice: audio, video (including television sets, video recording equipment, simple set-top boxes, audio equipment and multifunction equipment for consumer use; television sets include, but are not limited to, those with a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, plasma display panel, or projection technologies) [tariff headings (THs) 85.18; 85.21; 85.25; 85.28; and 95.04]; electric ovens [TH 85.16]; refrigerators [TH 84.18]; freezers [TH 84.18]; dishwashers [TH 84.22]; tumble dryers [TH 84.21]; washer-dryer combinations [TH 84.50]; washing machines [THs 84.50 and 84.51]; air conditioners [TH 84.15]; and heat pumps [tariff subheadings (TSHs) 8418.61 and 8418.69]. These are in essence audio equipment and kitchen appliances. [The THs and TSHs were not published in the notice, and have been added by the author. You should not rely on these without your own verification.]

According to the notice, three phases of introduction of the compulsory specification are specified. Phase 1, six months after the publication of the notice (May 28, 2015) for the compulsory specification for audio, video and related equipment would be effective. Products that are already in the market and approved by the NRCS for safety requirements are to comply with this compulsory specification 12 months after the publication of the notice (November 28, 2015). Phase 2, nine months after the publication of the notice (August 28, 2015) the compulsory specification for electric ovens, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, tumble dryers, washer-dryer combinations and washing machines would be effective. Products that are already in the market and approved by the NRCS for safety requirements are to comply with this compulsory specification 12 months after the publication of the notice (November 28, 2015). Phase 3, 18 months after the publication of the notice (May 28, 2016) the compulsory specification for air conditioners and heat pumps would be effective.

The Government Gazette notice makes reference to the South African National Standards (SANS) 941 under ‘specific requirements’ and stipulates four classes: A, B, C and D. The publication of SANS 941: Energy Efficiency of Electrical and Electronic Apparatus in February 2012 was a necessary step to support compliance with the stipulated energy demand reduction requirements. The National Energy Efficiency Strategy of March 2005 (reviewed in October 2008 and 2011/12), proposes that, by 2015, a final energy demand reduction of 12% should have been realised by South Africa, with a residential target of 10%. This translates into an average reduction of 1% a year between 2005 and 2015.

According to the ‘general requirements’ section of the notice, companies need to ensure that each type of product has been approved by the NRCS before offering it for sale. Failure to provide the NRCS with proof of compliance would constitute noncompliance. On application, once all the requirements have been met, the NRCS will issue a letter of authority certificate (LOA) that is valid for three years, extendable for two years. An LOA is required by all importers and manufacturers of products that fall under the scope of the compulsory specifications. It is understood that it costs R1 637 (value-added-tax exempted) for each application and that, under normal circumstances, it takes up to 120 working days from the date of registration of an application for an LOA to be issued. According to the NRCS, a memorandum between itself and the South African Revenue Service ensures stringent import control, such that no importer will be granted market entry into South Africa for products that fall under the scope of the relevant compulsory specifications unless the importer is in possession of an original, valid LOA for the specific product or products.

Should you require clarification, contact Ronel Greyvenstein, WTO/TBT enquiry point, at ronel.greyvenstein@sabs.co.za or Zen Fourie, NRCS: regulatory research and development, at fourief@nrcs.org.za.

WCO Classification Rulings
On December 5, the World Customs Organi- sation published the tariff decisions taken at the fifty-fourth session of the Harmonized System Committee, in September, releasing the classification rulings, the amendments to the explanatory notes and the amendments to the compendium of classification opinions.

TDCA and WTO Permits
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has published the ‘Procedures for the Application, Administration and Allocation of Export Permits under the Trade, Development and Co-Operation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of South Africa for the Year 2015’ and ‘Application for Market Access Permits for Agricultural Products in Terms of the WTO Agreement for 2015’.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

Flameblock
Flameblock

FlameBlock is a proudly South African company that engineers, manufactures and supplies fire intumescent and retardant products to the fire...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
AutoX
AutoX

We are dedicated to business excellence and innovation.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:1.884 3.218s - 141pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now