Operating an approval scheme and approved electrical articles register
Learn about the operating of an approval schemes and what approved electrical articles are in the register.
Rules and regulations
Declared electrical articles must be approved before they are sold in the NSW market. The Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act (the Act) allows for schemes, other than the one administered by NSW Fair Trading and other state and territory electrical regulators, to be recognised by the Minister responsible for NSW Fair Trading.
The Act requires that a person conducting a scheme must be accredited or become accredited within 12 months of the application. The person must also agree to implement a system for approval and marking of the declared electrical articles and to comply with other conditions as imposed by the Minister. Refer to Section 20 of the Act and Part 4 of the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulations for more information.
Applying for the scheme
View or download a copy of the REAS Conditions and Notice 2023 for a list of the conditions that an applicant for the scheme must meet. Organisations interested in applying for the scheme should download a copy of the Recognised external approval scheme application form.
Email your completed application forms and supporting documents to energyapprovals@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
Some electrical articles must be approved by the Commissioner for Fair Trading, or by an authorised external approval scheme, carry the appropriate approval mark and comply with the relevant Australian Standard before being sold in Australia.
These electrical articles are known as ‘declared’ articles.
Other electrical appliances and equipment, known as ‘non-declared articles,’ must comply with the minimum safety requirements contained in Australian Standard AS/NZS 3820:2009.
Declared articles
There are 66 classes of electrical items classified as declared articles. These include dishwashers, hairdryers and room heaters.
View or download the explanatory notes relating to the requirements for the sale of electrical articles in NSW ;or call 13 32 20 for a copy of the list.
If you are selling declared articles before you receive them, you should:
- insist that your supplier provides you with a copy of an ‘Australian’ Certificate of Approval
- confirm that an approval mark appears on the electrical articles and accessories.
Overseas Certificates of Approval and approval marks are not acceptable in Australia.
Go to the safe electrical goods - a guide for retailers and importers page for more information.
The majority of Australian Standards applied to electrical articles are based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and European Norm (EN) Standards.
Test reports to these standards maybe accepted provided they address Australian deviations.
Examples of acceptable approval marks
Here are examples of legally acceptable ‘electrical safety approval marks.’
| Approval Scheme | Approval number or mark |
|---|---|
| NSW Fair Trading | NSWxxxxx |
| Other State Government agencies |  |
| SGS Australia Pty Ltd | SGS-xxxxxx-EA |
| SAA Approvals Pty Ltd | SAA-xxxxxx-EA |
| UL International New Zealand Limited | ULL-xxxxxx-EA |
| TUV Rheinland Australia Pty Ltd | TUV-xxxxxx-EA |
| Global Mark Pty Ltd | GMA-xxxxxx-EA |
| Market Access (AUS) Pty Ltd trading as Certification Body Australia | CBA-xxxxxx-EA |
| Conformity Certification Services Pty Ltd | CCS-xxxxxx-EA |
| Oz Cert Pty Ltd | OZC-xxxxxx-EA |
Electrical goods that are 'declared articles'
Below is a list of electrical goods that the law refers to as 'declared articles'.
- appliance connectors
- control and conditioning devices
- cord line switches
- DC Isolator
- fluorescent lamp ballasts and starters
- lamp holders – bayonet, edison and adaptors
- miniature overcurrent circuit breakers
- outlet devices
- plugs
- residual current devices (safety switches)
- socket outlets and adaptors
- supply flexible cords
- wall switches.
- electric blankets
- flexible heating pads
- hairdryers
- immersion heaters
- massagers
- razors and hair clippers
- waterbed heaters.
- airconditioners incorporating flammable refrigerant
- bread toasters
- clothes dryers
- dishwashers
- fans
- floor polishers/scrubbers
- evaporative coolers
- heaters
- irons
- jugs
- kitchen machines
- liquid heating appliances (includes rice cookers)
- microwave ovens
- portable cooking appliances (includes blenders and frying pans)
- projectors
- ranges and rangehoods
- refrigerators/freezers
- vacuum cleaners
- washing machines.
- fence energisers
- hedge trimmers
- insect electrocutors
- lawn care appliances
- swimming pool and spa equipment.
- decorative lighting
- inspection headlamps
- nightlights
- portable lamps
- self-ballasted LED lamps
- therapeutic lamps
- Christmas and festival lights.
- battery chargers
- extra-low voltage supply.
- arc welding machines
- power tools
- pressure storage water heaters
- soldering irons.
- e-bikes
- e-scooters
- e-skateboards
- Self-balancing scooters
- e-micromobility batteries.
Approval of declared articles
NSW Fair Trading is authorised under the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2024, to certify declared articles for sale in Australia and New Zealand.
Electrical and Gas Approvals Team in the Building Commission NSW completes the work.
The Act also allows a number of private organisations to be recognised under the external approvals scheme.
Approval process
Approval is mandatory for declared articles. Approval may be granted for a declared article if it complies with:
- the class specification (Australian Standard) associated with the relevant declaring definition, and
- any further requirements (for example, product standards) that may be applicable to the model because of its particular design.
An approval application must be made on the appropriate form (EEA1) and include:
- the application fee
- evidence of compliance with the relevant requirements
- comprehensive colour photographs (in some cases a sample of the article may also be sought)
- a letter of authorisation, when an application is being lodged by an agent on behalf of the approval holder.
NSW Fair Trading can ask for more information. Approvals are usually granted for 5 years and can be renewed or extended. Approval for hair care articles such as hair strengtheners is only for two years.
Modification of model approval
An application for modification must be done if the design, material or construction of a model article is changed.
The application must be made on the appropriate form (EEA1).
Renewal of approval (including modifications)
The application must be made on the appropriate form (EEA2) and include:
- the application fee
- evidence of compliance with the relevant requirements
- comprehensive colour photographs
- a letter of authorisation where an application is being lodged by an agent on behalf of the approval holder.
The application must be submitted no later than one month before the model approval is due to expire.
Notification of changes in particulars
Written notice should be provided to NSW Fair Trading no later than 21 days if any of the following changes:
- name of the approval holder
- model reference code
- description (including Trade Name marking).
Notification must be made on the appropriate form (EEA3) and include the application fee. A separate form must be completed for each certificate.
Non-declared articles
Voluntary approval may be given for any non-declared electrical articles shown to be safe to use and complying with minimum safety requirements as set out in the Gas and Electrical (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018 and the requirements of selected clauses of Australian and New Zealand standard AS/NZ 3820: 2009 Essential safety requirements for low voltage electrical equipment.
Approval may be granted where it is shown that the article complies with the relevant Australian Standard or product standards as determined by the certifying authority.
An approval application must be made on the appropriate form (EEA1), be accompanied by the application fee and the same information as for a declared article.
Investigations
It’s an offence for a person to sell an article that has been declared under the Act as requiring certification if the article has not been approved for sale and marked with that approval.
NSW Fair Trading investigators visit suppliers at regular intervals to inspect electrical goods being sold and can take action to prosecute suppliers selling unapproved, unmarked or non-compliant declared electrical articles.
The current maximum penalty is $825,000 or 2 years imprisonment.
NSW Fair Trading maintains a proactive investigation, education and enforcement program to detect and prosecute persons who may be selling unapproved declared articles, including the sale of such items online.