The Victorian Government have introduced the Electricity Safety Amendment (Electrical Equipment Safety Scheme) Bill 2018 into Parliament, which will introduce new requirements for suppliers and manufacturers of household appliances and electrical equipment.
The Electrical Equipment Safety Scheme (EESS) Bill is now available .
Previously, Victoria’s Electrical Equipment Safety System was designed for electrical equipment manufactured in Australia by large Australian-based companies. The new EESS requirements address a significant shift from that profile where most electrical equipment is now manufactured offshore.
To address increasing numbers of recalls and deteriorating standards of imported goods, the EESS targets importers and manufacturers based in Australia and establishes a national database where suppliers must register as ‘Responsible Suppliers’. Equipment classified as medium or high risk must also be registered.
The national database will be searchable and include a register of certifications, Responsible Suppliers and registered products. Consumers will be able to check if a product is registered and identify the responsible supplier for the product. This will be especially useful for purchases made online from Australian suppliers.
A new regulatory compliance mark will be introduced with the EESS that suppliers will be required to use on their products. It will assist consumers to identify appliances that comply with Australian standards of safety.
Additionally, regulators will be able to trace product faults back to the relevant supplier and, if necessary, contact other responsible suppliers that are importing the same or similar equipment.
Reviewed 18 January 2023