Online marketplace – importer's guide

Overview

This guide is intended for Australian importers of electrical equipment who sell their equipment at online marketplaces. This guide will help you meet your obligations of the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS).

The obligations on importers and manufacturers cover registration of suppliers and equipment, and the marking requirements of the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).

The RCM is marked on the product by suppliers to show that the supplier and product are complying with the EESS.

A Responsible Supplier is an Australian or New Zealand entity or person who manufactures or imports in-scope electrical equipment in Australia.

In-scope electrical equipment is electrical equipment that is:

• rated at 50 V AC to 1000 V AC, or 120 V DC to 1500 V DC
• designed or marketed as suitable for household, personal or similar use.

Importing electrical equipment to supply online

For every type of electrical equipment you import and supply, you should ask:

Question 1

Is the electrical equipment that I am importing and supplying in-scope electrical equipment?

If you are Importing and supplying in-scope electrical equipment you must:

1. Register as a Responsible Supplier:

Visit eess.gov.au and select 'EESS Platform Login'.

2. Make sure all in-scope electrical equipment has the RCM on it:

If the equipment is not in-scope electrical equipment, refer to question 6.

Tip: A good place to mark the RCM is on the rating label. This allows customers and retailers to easily see that the product is compliant with the EESS.

Tip: Make sure any packaging or online advertisement has the RCM visible. This lets customers know the product meets the EESS.

Question 2

What is the level of the in-scope electrical equipment?

To answer this question, visit eess.gov.au/equipment/risk-level-definition/.

• If the equipment is Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment refer to QUESTION 3.
• If the equipment is Level 2 in-scope electrical equipment refer to QUESTION 4.
• If the equipment is Level 1 in-scope electrical equipment refer to QUESTION 5.

Question 3

Is the equipment Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment?

If you are importing and supplying Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment, you must:

A) Have a Certificate of Conformity for this equipment. This will be required to register the equipment.

Tip: Check the Certificate of Conformity to see if it’s valid and current.

To check the details of the Certificate

Visit eess.gov.au and select 'Public Search'.

B) Register this equipment. This registration is in addition to your registration as a Responsible Supplier.

Tip: You must already be registered as a responsible supplier before you can register to import and supply Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment.

If you are importing and supplying Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment, you must register this equipment.

Visit eess.gov.au and select 'EESS Platform Login'.

You will need the Certificate of Conformity to register the Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment.

Question 4

Is the equipment Level 2 in-scope electrical equipment?

If you are importing and supplying Level 2 in-scope electrical equipment, you must register the equipment. This registration is in addition to your registration as a Responsible Supplier.

Tip: You must already be registered as a registered Responsible Supplier.

If you are importing and supplying Level 2 in-scope electrical equipment, you must register this particular equipment.

Visit eess.gov.au and select 'EESS Platform Login'.

There is no need for a certificate of conformity to register your product. The product must be electrically safe and meet the relevant Australian safety standards.

You must keep a compliance folder that shows that the product(s) meet the relevant standards. If requested by Energy Safe Victoria, provide this compliance folder to Energy Safe Victoria within 10 days.

Tip: You may use a certificate of suitability to register your Level 2 in-scope electrical equipment.

Question 5

Is the equipment Level 1 in-scope electrical equipment?

If you are importing and supplying Level 1 in-scope electrical equipment, you must register as a Responsible Supplier.

You do not need a certificate of conformity for your product. Also, you don’t not need to register your product. The product must be electrically safe and meet the relevant Australian safety standards.

Tip: Refer to Question 1 on how to register as a responsible supplier.

If you have any questions about registration or certification of electrical equipment please contact Energy Safe Victoria by

• email at electricalequipmentsafetyenquiries@energysafe.vic.gov.au
• telephone on 03 9203 9795 option 5, option 2.

Importing electrical equipment to supply online (Not In-Scope Electrical Equipment)

Question 6

I import and supply Not In-Scope electrical equipment to sell online. What do I need to do?

You must ensure that the Not In-Scope electrical equipment you import and supply is both electrically safe and meets the relevant Australian electrical safety standards.

Australian standards can be purchased from SAIGlobal.com.

Tip for manufacturers: A good place to start is to contact an:

• Electrical Safety Approvals Consultant, or
• Electrical Safety Test Laboratory

Getting professional compliance advice early on during the design phase can help you by saving time and money later on.

Tip for importer: If you are importing the equipment, you should ask the manufacturer for the Electrical Safety Test report. A Test Laboratory or Consultant can help with the review of this document.

Manufacturing and supplying electrical equipment in Australia

The requirements are similar to those that apply to importers, listed above. Refer to QUESTION 1 to QUESTION 6 above. You will need to arrange for your own testing of the equipment to the relevant standard and, for Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment arrange your own certification of Conformity.

Tip: A good place to start is to contact an:

• Electrical Safety Approvals Consultant, or
• Electrical Safety Test Laboratory

Getting professional compliance advice early on during the design phase can help you by saving time and money later.

Buying electrical equipment locally from an Australian supplier to on-sell

All suppliers of electrical equipment have legal responsibilities. This is true even if you are on-selling electrical equipment that you have purchased from an Australian importer/manufacturer/supplier.

This guide provides information about your legal responsibilities. Ensure you can answer all questions for all of the electrical equipment which you intend to supply.

Question 1

Is the electrical equipment that I am buying and intend to supply, in-scope electrical equipment?

In-scope electrical equipment is electrical equipment that is:

• rated at 50 V AC to 1000 V AC, or 120 V DC to 1500 V DC
• designed or marketed as suitable for household, personal or similar use.

If you are on-selling in-scope electrical equipment you must buy from a registered Responsible Supplier.

Check the supplier’s registration here:

Visit eess.gov.au and select 'Public Search'.

Tip: keep your proof of purchase and ensure it includes details of the Responsible Supplier.

Make sure all in-scope electrical equipment has the RCM on it:

Question 2

What is the level of in-scope electrical equipment I am buying and intend to supply?

To answer this question, visit eess.gov.au/equipment/risk-level-definition/.

If you are buying Level 2 or Level 3 in-scope electrical equipment which you intend to on-sell, you must only buy and on-sell Registered Equipment.

Check the Registered Equipment here:

Visit eess.gov.au and select 'Public Search'

Tip: Keep your proof of purchase and ensure it includes details of the Responsible Supplier and the Level 2 or 3 equipment.
Make sure all in-scope electrical equipment has the RCM on it:

Question 3

I am buying Not In-Scope electrical equipment to on-sell online. What do I need to do?

You must ensure that the Not In-Scope electrical equipment you sell is both electrically safe and meets the relevant Australian electrical safety standards.