Compliance Insights March 2025

Regulatory changes

Electrical safety — Australia

Review of the regulatory framework for the safety of household electrical products

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a review report that included multiple recommendations aimed at better protecting consumers, enhancing harmonisation, increasing regulatory efficiency and reducing compliance costs for industry. Find the review report here:

https://www.productsafety.gov.au/about-us/product-safety-news/news/review-of-the-regulatory-framework-for-the-safety-of-household-electrical-products

Modification of standards for e-bikes

A consultation paper proposed modification of the current order to limit the applicability of the standards for e-bikes to electrical systems only. The following is proposed:

• AS 15194:2016 – Requirements will be limited to Clauses 4.2 (all, except electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements), Clause 5 (all, except AS/NZS 1927 requirements) and Clause 6 (all, except AS/NZS 1927 requirements).
• EN 15194:2017+A1:2023 – Requirements will be limited to Clauses 4.2 (all, except EMC requirements), Clause 5 and Clause 6. References to EN 60335-2-29 (battery chargers) will be replaced by AS/NZS 60335.2.29.

Note: AS 15194 and EN 15194 will only apply to e-bikes with a maximum continuous rated power not exceeding 500 watts. E-bikes having a maximum continuous rated power exceeding 500 watts must comply with UL 2849, the Standard for Electrical Systems for eBikes.

Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) — Australia

Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Commercial Ice-Makers) Determination 2025

New version released on March 3, 2025
https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00262/asmade/text

Consultation on a regulation impact statement on the energy efficiency of external power supplies

Consultation is now open; closes April 28, 2025

Proposed updates may expand the scope of this regulatory category to include devices with multiple output connections, devices with variable (load-selectable/negotiable) voltage/current outputs and devices with variable energy-saving modes.

An increase in the minimum energy performance level is also being considered. 
https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/cris-on-the-energy-efficiency-of-external-power-supplies

E3 Three-Phase Cage Induction Motors Consultation Regulation impact statement

Consulting on options to improve the energy efficiency of three-phase cage induction motors; options considered include:

• Increasing MEPS.
• Increasing scope to regulate larger and smaller three-phase electric motors.
• Changes to registration requirements, including “family of model” definition.
• New labelling requirements, including information disclosure requirements on product information sheets and registration number display requirements.

Feedback shall be submitted by April 28, 2025.
https://www.energyrating.gov.au/news-and-stories/proposing-minimum-energy-performance-standards-heat-pump-water-heaters

New registration requirements for dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers

Registrants and suppliers must adopt the new requirements from Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. 
The specific changes include:

• New testing and labelling requirements for dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers.
• New MEPS for dishwashers and clothes washers.

https://www.energyrating.gov.au/news-and-stories/new-registration-requirements-dishwashers-clothes-washers-and-dryers

New standards/amendments published

AS/NZS 60598.1:2025

Luminaires – Part 1: General Requirements and Tests
New edition published March 14, 2025
Superseding AS/NZS 60598.1:2017+A1+A2
Modified adoption of IEC 60958-1:2020, Ed. 9.0

• Input power measured and verified to be no more than 1.1x marked input power (Clause 3.2.8, Australia national difference).
• Power Over Ethernet (POE) and USB supply connections added to options for supply (Clause 4.33).
• Protective extra-low voltage (PELV) requirements added (Clause 4.31).
• Electromagnetic field (EMF) requirements added; however, no tests for current technologies (Clause 4.34).
• IPX9 tests added (Clauses 9.2.10 and 9.2.11).
• Number of fixings requiring a tool reduced from two to one (Clause 4.30).
• Requirements for surge protection components (SPC) added; compliance by relevant tests of AS/NZS 3100 (Clause 4.32, Australia national difference).
• Portable rechargeable battery-operated luminaires to comply with AS/NZS 60335.1:2022, Clause 12, Clause 19.17 and Annex B, or AS/NZS 62368.1:2022 Annex M (Clause 4.39, Australia national difference).
• Requirements regarding access to live parts if luminaire is opened for user cleaning/maintenance from AS/NZS 60958.1:2017 carried over to new edition with further clarification about what constitutes a “protective cover” (Clause 8.2, Australia national difference).

Date of application: March 14, 2028

AS/NZS IEC 61000.3.2:2023 Amd 1:2025

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Part 3.2: Limits – Limits for Harmonic Current Emissions (Equipment Input Current ≤16 A per Phase)
Amendment 1 published March 28, 2025
FYI only

IEC 62841-2-4:2014+AMD1:2025

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 2-4: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Sanders and Polishers Other Than Disc Type
Amendment 1 published Feb. 27, 2025

• Sanders (other than belt and drum sanders) and polishers (other than drum polishers) may incorporate power switches, provided they are not momentary power switches (Clause 21).
• Clarification added that a dust collection device is not required for tools intended to process only metal in accordance with size and type of material specified in instruction manual (Clause 21.35).
• Requirement for overload devices to be non-self-resetting type is no longer applicable (Clause 23.3).
• Additional requirement for battery-operated tools’ vibration measurement results (Annex I.3.5.1).

IEC 62841-2-14:2015+AMD1:2025

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 2-14: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Planers
Amendment 1 published Feb. 27, 2025

• Protection devices can be self-resetting if the tool is equipped with a momentary power switch, with no provision for being locked in the “on” position (Clause 23.3).
• Additional requirement for battery-operated tools’ vibration measurement results (Annex I.3.5.1).

IEC 62841-2-17:2017+AMD1:2025

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 2-17: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Routers
Amendment 1 published Feb. 27, 2025

• Added definition for Type 1 router (2 kg or less) and Type 2 router (more than 2 kg) (mass of tool only, excluding supply cord, base and battery).
• Protection devices can be self-resetting if the tool is equipped with a momentary power switch, with no provision for being locked in the “on” position (Clause 23.3).
• Additional requirement for battery-operated tools’ vibration measurement results (Annex I.3.5.1).

Draft standards/amendments published

DR AS/NZS 2293.1:2025

Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs for Buildings, Part 1: System Design, Installation and Operation
FYI only

Closing date for comments: May 8, 2025

DR AS/NZS 2293.2:2025

Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs for Buildings, Part 2: Routine Service and Maintenance
FYI only

Closing date for comments: May 8, 2025

DR AS/NZS 2293.3:2024

Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs for Buildings, Part 3: Emergency Luminaires and Exit Signs
FYI only

Closing date for comments: May 8, 2025

DR AS/NZS 61439.1:2025

Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies, Part 1: General Rules (IEC 61439-1:2020, MOD)
FYI only

Closing date for comments: May 14, 2025

DR AS/NZS 61439.2:2025

Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies, Part 2: Power Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies (IEC 61439-2:2020, MOD)
FYI only

Closing date for comments: May 14, 2025

DR AS/NZS IEC 60456:2025

Washing Machines for Household Use – Methods for Measuring the Performance
FYI only

Closing date for comments: May 2, 2025

Standards/amendments published but pending application

The following standards have an application date within the next six months.

AS/NZS 60335.2.2:2020 Amendment 1

Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety – Part 2.2: Particular Requirements for Vacuum Cleaners and Water-Suction Cleaning Appliances 
Amendment 1 published June 30, 2023
For AS/NZS variation only: Docking stations of automatic battery-operated cleaners are required to be lock-rotor-tested and are considered as unattended appliances during glow wire assessments (Cl. 19.7, 30.2.3).

Date of application: June 30, 2025

AS/NZS 61558.2.16:2022

Safety of Transformers, Reactors, Power Supply Units and Combinations Thereof, Part 2.16: Particular Requirements and Tests for Switch Mode Power Supply Units and Transformers for Switch Mode Power Supply Units for General Applications
New edition published June 24, 2022
Identical adoption of IEC 61558-2-16, Ed. 2.0

• Editorial and technical alignment with AS/NZS 61558.1:2018 (IEC 61558-1:2017, Ed. 3.0).
• Definitions of different voltage characteristics.
• Partial discharge and description of constructions moved to Part 1.
• Alternative method for dimensioning clearances.
• Removal of requirements for homogeneous field conditions.
• Clarification that transformer is to be tested at 0.9x and 1.1x rated voltage (Cl. 14.102).
• Added example for determining clearance and creepage distance (Annex CC).

Date of application: June 24, 2025

AS/NZS 62368.1:2022

Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment – Part 1: Safety Requirements 
New edition published June 24, 2022
Modified adoption of IEC 62368-1, Ed 3.0

• Requirements from IEC 60950-22 (outdoor equipment) and IEC 60950-23 (large data storage equipment) incorporated.
• All likely installation positions need to be considered, including nonvertical surfaces, regardless of the user installation instructions (Cl. 4.1.6).
• Button battery requirements expanded to cover all chemistries (IEC adoption of AU/NZ difference), not just lithium (IEC only).
• General clarifications added regarding peak vs. root mean square, along with three-second guidance for repetitive pulses.
• Antenna terminal requirements revised to align more with previous IEC 60065 standard requirements (Cl. 5.4.5, 5.5.6).
• Requirements for functional earthing (from IEC 60950-1) added (Cl. 5.6.8).
• Requirements for battery-backed-up supply capable of backfeeding added (Cl. 5.8).
• Fire enclosure requirements revised to include parts of previous IEC 60950-1 requirements.
• Stability tests revised (Cl. 8.6).
• Thermal requirements for wireless power transmitters added (Cl. 9.6).
• Optical radiation safeguards revised and clarified (Cl. 10.4).
• References to battery standards updated (IEC 62133-1 for alkaline and IEC 62133-2 for lithium) or added (IEC 62619 for nonportable lithium).
• Television sets and display devices required to be provided with a fixing point or restraining device to prevent the equipment from toppling (AU ND 8.6.201 and 8.6.202).

Date of application: June 24, 2025

AS/NZS 62841.4.5:2022

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety, Part 4.5: Particular Requirements for Grass Shears
New edition published June 24, 2022
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.94:2008
Identical adoption of IEC 62841-4-5:2021, Ed. 1

Date of application: June 24, 2025