General Information

The Government has made a lot of changes in its policies in order to reach its sustainable development goals. Similarly, Vanuatu has ratified the Paris agreements and now trying to mitigate climate change in the Energy sector. One of the most effective measures is using energy efficient electrical appliances, equipment’s and lighting products in order to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, save money and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

Hence, the Department of Energy with the technical assistance from the Pacific Community and funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) have developed the Energy Efficiency of Electrical Appliances, Equipment’s and Lighting Products Act No. 24 of 2016. The Act was gazetted by the State Law on 29th September 2017 is now into full enforcement.

This means that refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and lighting products imported to Vanuatu now have to meet minimum energy performance standards (MEPS). Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners also have to carry an energy label shown in Image I (displaying any other type of energy label is illegal).

The Act and Regulations applies to both private (individuals) importers as well as businesses (wholesalers and retailers) who are importing these products for their personal or business use.

There were exemption and transition periods in the Act, but these have all passed. At the date of this notice (30th June 2018), products must comply with all the requirements of the Act, or they can be seized or detained during customs clearance. Products can then be authorized to be re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s own expense. There are penalties required under the provision of the Act for importers who do not comply with the requirements.

• Prior to importation of the regulated products, importers must make sure they obtain a valid registration certificate from the Department of Energy.
• Processing of new applications for registration are now done in the Vanuatu Electronic Single Window (VeSW) system.
• No manual applications - importers or clients must apply through the (VeSW) system;
• Only custom brokers or agents with access to the Energy Module in the VeSW system can launch an application on behalf of a client or importer to register a particular product model and obtain a registration certificate.

Products must be registered with the Vanuatu Department of Energy (in the VeSW) to prove that they have been tested correctly and comply with the MEPS (Models that have already been registered in Vanuatu are listed here in the ' Approved Energy Efficient Appliances' .

There are 2 different categories of products (A and B). Category A products are products that the model numbers are already registered in an approved country (Australia, New Zealand or Fiji) and can be easily registered or found on the ‘Approved Energy Efficient Appliances' link.

Models that are not already registered in an approved country under the same brand name and model number can be registered in Vanuatu using as a category B product or products that are registered under a different brand name or model number, the importer will have to get a supporting letter from the manufacturer confirming that the products are identical in their energy performance even though they have different brand names and/or model numbers. For products that are not registered in any approved country, you will need to attach or provide a test report from a recognized testing laboratory during the launching of the new application.

Once an application has been launched or submitted through the VeSW system, DoE authorized officers and the Regulator with access to the system will assess, accept and get it approved. A registration fee has to paid (See 'Registration Fees' downloadable from the table on the right) in order to print the Certificate from the system. The registration certificate will be valid for a period of 3 years, or as long as the model remains registered in any of the approved countries.

Importers will need to show proof of registration even if a particular product has already been registered in Vanuatu by someone else. If the same brand and model has already been registered, the VeSW system will not allow a new importer to register it again under a new Vanuatu Registration Number (VRN). Individual importers must apply to the Regulator for a duplicate VRN and have the same product registered in a new registration certificate.