When you are supplying or selling products that we regulate under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme you have a legal obligation to make sure the products are:
- registered with the WELS scheme
- labelled with correct water efficiency information in accordance with Australian Standard 6400:2016.
These requirements apply to products displayed in a store, online or in a display unit, on product packaging and in brochures, advertising, catalogues, display cards, editorials, electronic displays, magazines, product specifications and inclusions lists.
Everyone in the supply chain (including manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, builders and developers) must meet these responsibilities to avoid penalties under the WELS Act.
Builders and developers are considered suppliers when they include regulated products in a building development or renovation.
Check registration status
Check our product registration database to make sure that the product you want to supply is registered. You will also need to make sure the WELS information matches the details in the database.
Registration details that must match the product supplied:
- registered model name (for all product packaging and in displays when the registration number is not shown)
- WELS registration number
- water consumption
- star rating
- image of product
- product type
- subtype of product (for plumbing products)
- model ID (for white goods)
- organisation licence number
- brand.
Check all product details required on the water rating label and in the WELS text advice in Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Search the database using the model name or WELS registration number, if it has been provided.
Registrations can expire. You will need to track the registration status of products in your inventory to make sure the products are still registered when you sell them.
If the product is not registered (including where you cannot confirm registration), talk to your supplier about who will register it. You can register a product, if you have permission from the manufacturer.
Meet label design specifications
Water rating labels must be designed to meet the specifications in Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Check the standard for details on label design, including rounding of the water consumption figure and the sizing, colours and fonts you must use.
Details that must be included on the label vary depending on the type of product.
Taps, showers, lavatory equipment, urinals and flow controllers must include:
- star rating
- water consumption
- licence number
- registered company name for the licence number
- additional product-specific label information in accordance with the standard.
Dishwashers and washing machines must include:
- star rating
- water consumption
- brand ID
- model ID
- place settings (for dishwashers)
- load capacity (in kg for washing machines)
- tested program setting
- additional product-specific label information in accordance with the standard.
Find out more about information provided on the water rating label.
All WELS products must be displayed with the registered model name and/or WELS registration number. Important information: If using the WELS label, you must display the WELS registration number if the registered model name is not used.
Use text advice
In some cases you can provide text advice instead of a water rating label.
Before you use text advice, check Australian Standard 6400:2016 to make sure you are not required to provide a water rating label with your product.
Details that must be included in text advice are explained in the standard, and vary by product type. Note the WELS registration number is mandatory in text advice from 22 July 2023.
Text advice must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- star rating
- flow rate in litres per minute
- WELS registration number
- if required, the contents of the additional information label as per Clause 2.5.4.3 of Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Brand and model name can be included for traceability but is not required.
Text advice must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- star rating
- flow rate in litres per minute
- WELS registration number
- if required, the contents of the additional information label as per Clause 2.5.4.3 of Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Brand and model name can be included for traceability but is not required.
Text advice must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- star rating
- flow rate in litres per minute
- WELS registration number
- if required, the contents of the additional information label as per Clause 2.5.4.3 of Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Brand and model name can be included for traceability but is not required.
Text advice can be used on the packaging of flow controllers (including multipacks) where there is not enough space to include the minimum size water rating label(s).
Text advice must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- star rating
- dual flush—full/half/average flush in litres
- single flush—single flush in litres
- WELS registration number
- if required, the contents of the additional information label as per Clause 2.5.4.3 of Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Brand and model name can be included for traceability but is not required.
Text advice must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- star rating
- flush in litres per stall
- WELS registration number
- if required, the contents of the additional information label as per Clause 2.5.4.3 of Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Brand and model name can be included for traceability but is not required.
Text advice must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- star rating
- water usage (litres)
- load capacity (place settings)
- WELS registration number
- if required, the contents of the additional information label as per Clause 2.5.4.3 of Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Brand and model name can be included but are not required.
Text advice must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- star rating
- water usage figures (litres)
- load capacity (kg)
- program used
- WELS registration number
- if required, the contents of the additional information label as per Clause 2.5.4.3 of Australian Standard 6400:2016.
Brand and model name can be included but are not required.
Text advice for the dryer function must be consistent with the water rating label and include:
- ‘WELS’
- additional water used to dry the clothes
- water usage figures (litres)
- load capacity (kg)
- WELS registration number
- Washing machine text advice must also be included.
Brand and model name can be included but are not required.
Match model name
The model name you display with a product must match the model name registered in our database. This applies when you are using a water rating label and not displaying the WELS registration number.
Minor differences are acceptable, such as colour variations.
Examples
An acceptable change in the model name for a variant:
- registered model name of the product is Rome Toilet Suite
- displayed model name with the product is Rome Toilet Suite Black.
An unacceptable change in the model name for a variant:
- registered model name of the product is Rome Toilet Suite
- displayed model name with the product is Florence Toilet Suite.
If you vary the model name from what is listed in our product registration database, you will need to either:
- register the product under that new model name
- for acceptable variations display the correct registration number with the product, if you are displaying the product out of packaging.
Packaging for registered products must include the registered model name and a water rating label. Displaying text advice in place of a water rating label is not an option for product packaging. An exception is only made for flow controllers, where text advice is acceptable if the packaging is too small to fit a label.
Display water efficiency information
Correct water efficiency information must be visible when you profile, display, promote, market, sell or supply regulated products in any way.
All WELS products must be profiled or displayed such that the required WELS information has a clear and obvious connection to the registered product.
Use of the water rating label or text advice depends on how you are displaying or advertising products:
- In store product displays — use either the water rating label or text advice. Dishwashers and washing machines must have a water rating label on or next to the product on display.
- Online listing — use either the water rating label or text advice.
- Packaging — must use the water rating label. For dishwashers and washing machines, the label can be supplied in the contents of the packaging. For flow controllers, if the packaging is too small to fit the minimum size WELS label, you can use text advice instead. The registered model name must appear on the product packaging.
- Property development or display suite — use either the water rating label or text advice.
- Property inclusions list — use either the water rating label or text advice.
- Catalogues and brochures — use either the water rating label or text advice.
Providing a model name for a product on advertising is optional. However, it is recommended that the registered model name is included to help identify the product. Note: the WELS registration number is mandatory in text advice from 22 July 2023.
Position the label or text advice so that it is clear to the consumer which product it relates to.
Dishwashers and washing machine labels
When displayed in store and out of packaging, dishwashers and washing machines must have the water rating label visible to the consumer. The label must be adhered to the upper-front part of the appliance. If this is not possible, position the label somewhere on the front of the appliance or use a swing tag attached to the upper-front part of the appliance. If the swing tag can rotate, it must be double-sided.
Where there are no options for attaching the label to the front, position the label on top of the washing machine or dishwasher. It must be at the front and not obscured when on display.
Label placement on the side, back or base of the product is not permitted.
Checklist
Use our checklist to help you meet label and display requirements for products you are supplying.
Download
| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
| Water efficient product labelling and display checklist PDF | 1 | 230 KB |
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