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The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (December 28) extended the scope of its voluntary Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (EELS) to cover electric rice-cooker and multifunction office device with "copy", "print" and "fax" functions.
Under the scheme, manufacturers, importers and local agents of some common types of household appliances and office equipment are invited to apply for energy labels to be affixed to their products that serve to inform consumers of the individual product's energy consumption and efficiency. With this information, consumers will be able to make better choices.
The scheme also aims to provide a stimulation for phasing out the manufacturing and use of less energy efficient electrical products from the market.
By joining this scheme, participants can keep pace with the international trend which calls for the use of energy labels. At the same time, participation in the scheme can provide customers with an assurance that the products are energy saving.
Initially, the EELS administered by the EMSD was only applicable to household appliances. The scheme was extended to cover office equipment in December 2000. With the present extension, the scheme now covers seven types of household appliances including refrigerator, room cooler, washing machine, electric clothes dryer, compact fluorescent lamp, electric storage water heater and electric rice-cooker as well as two types of office equipment including photocopier and multifunction office device with "copy", "print" and "fax" functions.
To qualify for labelling, test certificates of the products confirming compliance of the requirements should be issued by laboratories endorsed by the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS) or recognised based on internationally accepted ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
Test certificates submitted by the manufacturers' in-house laboratories where tests had been evaluated and certified by internationally recognised third party certification organisations will also be considered.
EMSD will carry out random checks on registered and unregistered products and take necessary action to ensure effective operation of the scheme. EMSD will also de-register any non-compliant products.
Enquires about the scheme can be made in writing to the Energy Efficiency Office of the EMSD on the 11th floor, 111 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay or by calling 2881 1562. Information about the scheme is also available at the EMSD homepage: http://www.emsd.gov.hk.
End/Friday, December 28, 2001
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