Product Emissions Standards for consumers
[Music plays and an animation image appears of a male using a blower vac next to a river and beside a swimming pool]
Narrator: Meet Clive.
[Animation image changes to show a split screen showing images of the male mowing a lawn, the male using a blower vac, and the male riding a jet ski]
Clive loves the great outdoors.
[Animation image changes to show a male sitting in a sun lounge next to a pool and looking at a laptop]
Clive is clever with his money and shops for the best deals online.
[Animation image changes to show a male smiling and standing next to a jet ski, a lawnmower, and a blower vac and text appears: Product Emissions Standards started in July 2018]
Unfortunately, some of these products he bought online from overseas don’t meet Australia’s emission standards.
[Camera zooms in on the male and shows him with a sad face and a red circle appears on the left with dollar signs and the word “Fine” inside and text appears beneath: Import Offence]
He could now be liable for a hefty fine.
[Animation image changes to show an E-Shop web page for a whipper snipper and the image shows the cursor selecting “Contact seller” and then an inset message appearing: Message retailer – Hi retailer, can you send me a photo of the emissions label on the product’s engine? Thanks, Clive]
If you’re buying outdoor power equipment or marine engines online, check before you choose.
[Animation image shows the cursor selecting “Send” at the bottom of the message and then the image shows a reply inset showing a photo of the emissions label and text: Here you go Clive!]
Ask for proof that the product meets our emission standards.
[Animation image changes to show the male sitting in a sun lounge by a pool having a drink and watching a fish jump out of the river nearby]
Products that meet our emission standards lower air pollution; good for you and good for the environment.
[Image changes to show a black screen and the Coat of Arms and Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment and text appears: Check before you choose, environment.gov.au/consumers]
To find out more go to environment.gov.au/consumers.
[New text appears: Authorised by the Australian Government Canberra]
Authorised by the Australian Government Canberra.
Australia’s emissions standards exist as part of a national framework to reduce air pollution and improve air quality. This is important as it impacts the environment and the quality of the air we breathe. Air quality can have temporary and lasting impacts on our health. Emissions controlled products (ECPs) can only be imported, supplied or domestically manufactured if they comply with the Product Emissions Standards Act 2017 (the Act).
If you are buying online from an overseas retailer or supplier, you are importing an ECP into Australia. As the importer, you must ensure that any products you bring into Australia complies with the product emissions standards. Before you buy, check with the manufacturer or supplier to confirm that the product is:
- emissions certified
- correctly labelled to show it meets the required standards.
Products imported without a valid certification or exemption number or with incorrect labelling may be seized.
You can face penalties or prosecution which includes strict and civil liability offences.
To learn more see Complying with the Product Emissions Standards.
Products covered by the standards
Emissions-Controlled Products (ECPs) are:
- new, complete non-road spark-ignition engines with maximum engine power of 19 kilowatts or less
- new, complete spark-ignition propulsion marine engines of any power capacity.
Examples of products that are ECPs include but are not limited to:
- air compressor
- brick elevator
- cherry picker/scissor lift
- concrete grinder
- concrete mixer
- firefighting/water pump generator
- go kart
- lawn aerator/corer
- leaf/garden vacuum (walk behind)
- log splitter
- mini loader
- mulcher/chipper
- pitch roller
- plate compactor
- pressure cleaner
- push mower
- ride-on mower
- rotary hoe
- slasher (ride-on)
- snow blower
- stump grinder.
- brick/concrete saw
- concrete vibrator/deaerator
- engines for non-road equipment
- garden edger
- hammer drill
- hedge trimmer
- jackhammer
- leaf/vacuum blower
- posthole borer/auger
- powered broom
- trowel machine (concrete)
- whipper snipper/line trimmer.
- inboard engine
- jet boat engine
- outboard engine
- personal watercraft
- sterndrive engine
- water scooter.
(This is not a complete list.)
To learn more see the Product Emissions Standards fact sheet.
Confirming a product is compliant
If you are listed as the importer in the import declaration, we may contact you to ensure that it meets the standards.
Do not buy from an online seller if they cannot provide evidence that the product meets Australia’s emissions standards. As the importer, you will be held legally responsible for any offences under the Act.
When contacting a seller, you may wish to use this sample text:
Dear seller,
I am writing to you to confirm whether the product you are selling meets Australia’s Product Emissions Standards Act 2017. Please send me a copy of the certificate of conformity and a photograph of the emissions label. The label should signify that the product is certified by at least one of the following standards:
- Australia
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
- California Air Resources Board
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- European Union.
Kind regards,
Your name here
Consumer rights
All your usual consumer rights apply when you shop with an Australian online business.
Exercise caution when you buy from an overseas online business. It is up to you to ensure any products you import from overseas comply with Australian standards.
Contact us
Email: ProductEmissions.environment@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 1800 976 422