Product emissions standards exist as part of a national framework to regulate emissions from certain products. Emissions standards are important as they:
- contribute to improving air quality in Australia
- deliver health and environmental benefits
- assist in giving effect to Australia’s obligations under international climate change conventions.
The product emissions standards set limits for harmful emissions from Emissions-Controlled Products (ECPs). ECPs are:
- new, complete spark-ignition engines with a maximum power of 19 kilowatts or less
- new, complete spark-ignition propulsion marine engines of any power capacity.
Clean air is a shared responsibility. Suppliers, manufacturers, importers, customs brokers and consumers all have a part to play.
Products covered by the standards
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
Importing, supplying and manufacturing ECPs
New ECPs can only be imported, supplied and/or manufactured in Australia if they meet the emissions standards.
When you import, supply or manufacture ECPs:
Do:
- Check if the ECPs qualify for an exemption from the Product Emissions Standards Act 2017 (the Act) under part 5 of the Product Emissions Standards Rules 2017 (the Rules).
- Verify each ECP is either Australian certified or holds a foreign certification of conformity. Certification from one or more of these authorities satisfies Australian certification requirements:
- California Air Resources Board;
- Environment and Climate Change Canada;
- European Union (EU) approval authorities;
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).
- Ensure each ECP label is correct under Part 6 of the Rules. The label must be visible, legible and in English.
- Keep records of each purchased, imported, or supplied ECP for 5 years.
- Report annually to the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on ECPs manufactured in Australia.
Do not:
- Purchase or import from suppliers who are unable to provide you the information about whether a product is compliant with the emissions standards.
- Manufacture ECPs that cannot be certified or labelled.
- Supply non-certified ECPs. This may carry hefty penalties.
Read more about buying emissions-controlled products.
Penalties
Penalties may apply if you do not comply with the emissions standards. These include fines, injunctions, and forfeiture of products.
Read more about complying with the product emissions standards.
Our role
- We enforce the Product Emissions Standards Act 2017, which sets emissions standards for certain products imported into, manufactured, or supplied in Australia.
- We administer the Product Emissions Standards Rules 2017, which set technical requirements to ensure the objectives of the Act are met.
- We support the regulated community to understand their obligations under relevant legislation.
- We process applications for Australian certification and applications for exemptions.
- We also collect fees and charges and undertake activities to ensure compliance with the standards. To learn more, see Cost Recovery – Charges and Fees.
Contact us
To learn more about the product emissions standards:
- Email ProductEmissions.environment@dcceew.gov.au
- phone 1800 976 422