Length of 1 year Lifetime or 1 year 5 2 years (with option for registration dependent on renewal) product Voluntary or Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Voluntary mandatory Point of Point of sale Point of installation Point of sale of sale, and point enforcement of product or service development Compliance and The DotE manages the While the ABCB Compliance and Product applications enforcement WELS scheme in manages and enforcement of the E3 are assessed by the accordance with its administers the Program is the program’s independent Compliance and WaterMark responsibility of the E3 Technical Expert Panel Enforcement Policy (2009). scheme, the Joint Committee comprised who assess the This includes promotion of Accreditation of Commonwealth, application and reserve self- regulation via System of state and territory the right to approve education and Australian and New Government agencies product and license the communication to Zealand (JAS-ANZ) and New Zealand use of the Smart encourage compliance. authorizes the Government Approved WaterMark Additionally the DotE can CABs. The CABs representatives, the logo. run compliance audits and monitor supplier committee is chaired testing and pursue a compliance and by an officer of the graded range of actions for state and territory Department of compliance under the inspectors check Industry and Science. WELS Act 2005, such as: plumber The E3 Committee compliance. promotes compliance issuing infringement through clear guidance notices ABCB may also on requirements and check test products applying pecuniary provides a forum for and remove penalties the exchange of ideas. accreditation from seeking injunctions Additionally it runs CABs. check tests and in- seeking criminal store surveys on prosecution labelling and initiating civil litigation registration or, cancelling or compliance. suspending registration. Source: Australian Government 2015g, Smart Approved WaterMark 2015, Australian Government 2015c, and ABCB 2015.
Length of registration 1 year Lifetime or 1 year dependent on product 5 2 years (with option for renewal) Voluntary or mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Voluntary Point of enforcement Point of sale Point of installation Point of sale of sale, and point of product or service development Compliance and enforcement The DotE manages the WELS scheme in accordance with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy (2009). This includes promotion of self- regulation via education and communication to encourage compliance. Additionally the DotE can run compliance audits and testing and pursue a graded range of actions for compliance under the WELS Act 2005, such as: issuing infringement notices applying pecuniary penalties seeking injunctions seeking criminal prosecution initiating civil litigation or, cancelling or suspending registration. While the ABCB manages and administers the WaterMark scheme, the Joint Accreditation System of Australian and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) authorizes the CABs. The CABs monitor supplier compliance and state and territory inspectors check plumber compliance. ABCB may also check test products and remove accreditation from CABs. Compliance and enforcement of the E3 Program is the responsibility of the E3 Committee comprised of Commonwealth, state and territory Government agencies and New Zealand Government representatives, the committee is chaired by an officer of the Department of Industry and Science. The E3 Committee promotes compliance through clear guidance on requirements and provides a forum for the exchange of ideas. Additionally it runs check tests and in- store surveys on labelling and registration compliance. Product applications are assessed by the program’s independent Technical Expert Panel who assess the application and reserve the right to approve product and license the use of the Smart Approved WaterMark logo. Source: Australian Government 2015g, Smart Approved WaterMark 2015, Australian Government 2015c, and ABCB 2015.
2015-wels-scheme-review-final-report.docx