On 9 December 2022, the Federal Court of Australia handed down the judgment in the first civil penalty case under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005. The Court ordered Perth-based companies Renaissance Bathrooms, Traditional Taps, Castironbaths and Belfast Sinks, along with the sole director of all four companies, Mr Andrew Shaw, to pay a total of $2.195 million for supplying tap, shower and lavatory products that were not registered or labelled as required by the WELS Act. The judgement includes 5 year injunctions for Mr Shaw personally and for his solvent companies.
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Choose water efficient products
Choose water efficient products
Learn how you can use product labelling and advice to buy water efficient products that will conserve water and save you money.
- Use water rating information to compare products and save money on your bills.
- Learn how to read the water rating label.
- How products are tested to determine their water efficiency.
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Register your products
Register your products
Products you supply must be registered under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme. Understand your responsibilities and how to register a product.
- Check if products you supply need to be registered.
- Access our product registration database.
- Standards for product water efficiency testing.
- Apply for new registrations and renew existing registrations.
- Manage your registration fees and payments.
- Plumbing products must be WaterMark certified.
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Label and display products
Label and display products
If you supply products we regulate at any point from manufacture to display in building developments, you are responsible for water efficiency labelling.
- How to display water efficiency information with products you supply.
- Make sure products you supply are currently registered.
- Advice for builders, developers and real estate agents on water efficiency labelling.
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Inspections and enforcement
Inspections and enforcement
We work with industry to maintain compliance and enforce the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme requirements, so consumers can trust the water rating label.
- We inspect your business to make sure you sell registered and labelled products.
- If you don’t register or label your products, we may issue infringements and penalties.
- We educate suppliers, to help you meet your legal obligations.
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- News
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About
About
The purpose of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme is to conserve water by helping consumers make informed decisions and encouraging uptake of water-saving technologies.
- Our purpose and supplier responsibilities are established through legislation.
- Water efficiency standards set product performance and labelling requirements.
- Scheme reviews, evaluation and product research we have conducted.
- Contains the WELS Regulator advice on specific regulatory issues.
- Check this list of all the publications available across the website.
- Use our online form, call or email us with your queries.
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