Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/2

14 January 2011

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 47/2011

US : Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for: (i) Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers; (ii) Clothes Dryers and Room Air Conditioners

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has recently issued amendments to the test procedures for (i) refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers; and (ii) residential clothes dryers and room air conditioners. The Federal Register (FR) notices are available at:

1. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-30071.pdf and
2. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2010-32118.pdf respectively.

DETAILS

2.The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), which sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. The "Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products other than Automobiles" established under the EPCA consists essentially of four parts: (1) testing; (2) labeling; (3) establishment of Federal energy conservation standards; and (4) certification and enforcement procedures covering most major household appliances. While the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for labeling, the DoE implements the other three aspects of the program. The testing requirements consist of test procedures that, pursuant to the EPCA, manufacturers of covered products must use as the basis for certifying to DoE that their products comply with applicable energy conservation standards adopted.

Test Procedures for Refrigerators, Refrigerator-Freezers, and Freezers

3.The DoE issued in the FR of 16 December 2010 a final rule and an interim final rule to amend the test procedures for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers. The final rule amending the current procedures will take effect from 18 January 2011. These changes will be mandatory for product testing starting from 14 June 2011. The interim final rule regarding Appendices A and B establishes amended test procedures for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers that would be required for measuring energy consumption once the DoE promulgates the new energy conservation standards for these products, which is currently under development and will apply to products starting in 2014. The interim final rule will be effective from 15 April 2011. Interested parties may submit comments in response to this interim final rule to the DoE by 14 February 2011.

Test Procedures for Clothes Dryers and Room Air Conditioners

4.The DoE also issued in the FR of 6 January 2011 a final rule to amend the test procedures for residential clothes dryers and room air conditioners. The amendments provide for measurement of standby mode and off mode power use by these products and also amend the active mode test procedures for these products. The final rule will be effective from 7 February 2011.

5.Traders are advised to refer to the above-mentioned FR notices for the details of the test procedures. Traders are also strongly advised to seek clarifications with their importers in the US in order to comply with the necessary requirements.

6.Separately, the DoE maintains a website on the Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program, which develops test procedures and minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment. Traders are advised to visit the website at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/index.html for latest information on the test procedures and energy conservation standards.

ENQUIRIES

7.For enquiries concerning this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Carmen CHAN)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry