April 3, 2024
Welcome to this quarter's Global Market Access Regulatory Newsletter from UL Solutions. You'll find timely content on new and updated regulations in markets around the world — including Asia, Latin America and the Middle East — plus information about how our software can help you master your compliance needs.
This quarter's Global Market Access Regulatory updates
China CEL product catalogue further expansion
Learn about new Chinese regulations regarding energy efficiency on an array of products, from arc welding machines to commercial induction cooktops.
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Egypt updates energy efficiency standards
Find out about updated energy efficiency standards on household appliances, including dishwashers, televisions and displays, and air conditioners.
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Introducing Global Compliance Management
Stay on top of evolving regulations around the world with Global Compliance Management, a new software suite from UL Solutions that combines regulatory data, your specific compliance needs, and easy connection to regulatory advisory assistance.
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UL Demko and appliance energy efficiency in Oman
Oman authorities have expanded the Omani Certificate of Conformity and implemented new energy efficiency standards. UL Demko is a Notified Body and can perform conformity assessment procedures for needs in this market.
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Panama energy efficiency for refrigerators
Panamanian authorities adopted new technical regulations regarding household refrigerators and freezers and now require a certificate from an accredited certification body as well as a test report.
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U.S. EPA hydrofluorocarbon restrictions
The United States Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule regarding hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and establishes compliance dates for various categories of products and their installation.
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Mexico guidelines for use of the IFT Seal
Learn how to demonstrate compliance for telecommunications and broadcasting equipment using the new IFT Seal from the Mexico Federal Telecommunications Institute.
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China CEL product catalogue further expansion
On Dec. 15, 2023, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued the Development and Reform Environmental Protection Regulation No. 1629 of 2023 to release the sixteenth batch of product catalogs and related rules for implementing energy efficiency labeling in China.
Five categories of products are impacted:
- Arc welding machines and resistance welding machines (New addition)
- LED flat panel luminaires (New addition)
- Commercial induction cookers/cooktops (New addition)
- AC contactors (Revised)
- Displays/monitors (Revised)
Below is the summarized table for the implementation and mandatory date, implementation rules number and applicable standards.
| Products | Implementation rules | Applicable standards | Implementation date | Mandatory date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welding Machines | CEL 043-2023 | GB 28736-2019 | June 1, 2024 | June 1, 2026 |
| LED Flat Panel Lamps for General Lighting | CEL 044-2023 | GB 38450-2019 | June 1, 2024 | June 1, 2026 |
| Commercial Induction Cookers | CEL 045-2023 | GB 40876-2021 | June 1, 2024 | June 1, 2026 |
| AC Contactors | CEL 018-2023 replace CEL 018-2016 | GB 21518-2022 | Jan. 1, 2024 | Jan. 1, 2026 |
| Display | CEL 014-2023 replace CEL 014-2016 | GB 21520-2023 | June 1, 2024 | June 1, 2026 |
https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/ghxwj/202312/t20231214_1362611.html
Egypt updates energy efficiency standards
On Jan. 4, 2024, Egypt’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) published Ministerial Decree No. 499/2023 and No. 502/2023 on the implementation of updated energy efficiency standards for household dishwashers, televisions and displays, and air conditioners.
The updated standards are:
- ES 7820:2023, energy efficiency of household dishwashers
- ES 7993:2023, energy efficiency label for televisions and displays
- ES 3795:2023, energy efficiency label requirements for room air conditioners
Manufacturers and suppliers are given a grace period of 12 months from the date of publication of Ministerial Decrees to comply with the above standards.
Egypt’s energy efficiency program requires that testing must be performed according to Egyptian standards by a recognized laboratory. Products shall obtain an energy efficiency label issued by the Egyptian Organization for Standardization & Quality (EOS) featuring a unique QR or barcode number.
Related software
Introducing Global Compliance Management
Every month, more than 100 new regulations go into effect. Keeping up with evolving requirements is an incredibly complex challenge that takes focus away from entering new markets and growing in current ones. With total visibility into your compliance needs and activities, you can make more strategic choices to streamline compliance activities and maintain market access.
New from UL Solutions, Global Compliance Management (GCM) software suite provides real-time regulatory intelligence, continuous compliance management, and instant access to holistic guidance from experts to support your market access and product compliance strategy. GCM software suite consists of three modules: Regulatory Intelligence, Compliance Portfolio, and Regulatory Advisory. These modules may be utilized individually or together, depending on your compliance needs.
UL Demko and appliance energy efficiency in Oman
Oman introduced new mandatory approvals and an online platform for the traceability of approved products.
Oman has instituted new mandatory approvals through Hazm, an online platform that facilitates easy traceability of approved products. Manufacturers and importers of household appliances are directly impacted by new requirements.
The Omani Certificate of Conformity, currently in place for EMC and Safety, has been expanded to three additional product categories:
- Washing machines from 10 to 25 Kg capacity
- Vacuum cleaners
- Dishwashers
Additionally, the implementation of the Omani standards (OS 1651/2022, OS 1652/2022, OS 1653/2022) extended the energy efficiency testing, labeling and registration to three additional product categories.
Products currently covered by these standards include:
- Air conditioners with a cooling capacity up to 70,000 BTU/h (since 2019)
- Washing machines with a capacity between 3kg and 25kg (since December 2023)
- Electric storage water heaters with a storage capacity up to 2,000L storage capacity (since December 2023)
- Refrigerators, freezers and combined for household use (since December 2023)
In both cases, the conformity assessment procedure involves a Notified Body appointed by local authorities.
UL Demko is notified for Oman’s safety and energy efficiency approvals, as well as for the G-Mark regional certification and can help with testing and certification for Oman market access.
Panama energy efficiency for refrigerators
On Sept. 14, 2023, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) published the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Central American technical regulation RTCA 97.01.81:22.
This regulation applies to household refrigerator and freezers and requires product testing according to any of these standards:
- 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 430
- AHAM HRF-1-2019
- CAN/CSA-C300-08
- NOM-015-ENER-2018
In addition to the test report, a certificate issued by an accredited certification body must be obtained and be presented when products are imported beginning in June 2024.
The Central America Regulations cover other countries besides Panama, including: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Each country will individually publish the RTCA regulation adoption.
U.S. EPA hydrofluorocarbon restrictions
On Oct. 24, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule entitled “Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Restrictions on the Use of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons Under Subsection (i) the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020.” This has been in effect since Dec. 26, 2023.
This final rule, among others, restricts the use of high Global Warming Potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in specific sectors or subsectors and establishes labeling, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. Restrictions are given in terms of products belonging to sectors or subsectors that use regulated substances. In most subsectors, EPA has set a maximum GWP limit on HFCs or HFC blends that can be used, while in a few subsectors, EPA has listed the specific HFCs or HFC blends that are restricted.
Restrictions on the manufacture and import of products and installation of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump (RACHP) systems take effect on different dates varying by subsector. Compliance dates range between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2028. Three years after the manufacture and import restriction dates, the same restrictions will also apply to sale, distribution and export activities.
On Dec. 26, 2023, the publication of an interim final rule extended the compliance date by one additional year until Jan. 1, 2026, and only for the installation of new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems with components manufactured or imported before Jan. 1, 2025, and excluded residential ice makers from the category of household refrigerator and freezer subsector.
40 CFR Part 84 Subpart B - Restrictions on the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons
Mexico guidelines for use of the IFT Seal
On Dec. 26, 2023, the Mexico Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) published an agreement titled “Agreement Through Which the Plenary Session of the Federal Telecommunications Institute Issues the Guidelines for the Use of the IFT Seal on Approved Products, Equipment, Devices or Apparatus Intended for Telecommunications or Broadcasting.”
The document sets out the provisions and specifications for use of a graphic seal as an additional element in the marking or labeling for approved products under the Homologation Guidelines.
The IFT Seal must be included in the marking or labeling of the approved products. This is in addition to the prefix "IFT" in capital letters and the provided Homologation Certificate number.
Please refer to the attachment for the use of IFT Seal, including the marking or labeling.
The IFT shall verify and monitor compliance with these guidelines and may carry out inspection and verification visits at any time. In case of non-compliance, the Certificate of Homologation may be revoked.
These guidelines will be enforced 180 business days from the day following the publication date.
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