Selling safe electrical appliances and equipment

This section provides information about meeting requirements for selling safe electrical equipment and appliances.

There are regulations that apply to the supply of electrical equipment and appliances. The requirements set out in the regulations must be followed. A failure to do so is a criminal offence.

• Part 4 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998 – sets out the specific provisions for approval, supply and use of electrical equipment in Victoria.
• Electricity Safety (Equipment Safety Scheme) Regulations 2019 (EESS)

EESS

The Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) is a framework that regulates the supply chain of in-scope electrical equipment (low voltage equipment for household, personal or similar use).

Responsible Suppliers and EESS

The Responsible Supplier (on-shore manufacturer or importer) must meet all the requirements of the EESS, including:

• Ensuring that any in-scope risk level (Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3) electronic equipment offered for sale meets the safety requirements of the EESS (including the Equipment Safety Rules) and is electrically safe.
• The Responsible Supplier and any in-scope electrical equipment offered for sale are correspondingly registered.
• Pay all corresponding registration fees.
• The product is marked with the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM), as shown below, in accordance with the requirements listed in AS/NZS 4417.1 & AS/NZS 4417.2.

Steps to comply with EESS

Regulatory compliance mark (RCM)

EESS provides information about the process and steps for compliance with EESS.

Persons other than a Responsible Supplier

Second or subsequent suppliers in the supply chain must ensure that electrical equipment offered for sale complies with the following:

• Equipment is sourced from a Responsible Supplier who is registered on the EESS Registration Database; and,
• the equipment is registered on the EESS Registration Database (mandatory for Level 2 and Level 3) against the registered Responsible Supplier; and,
• the equipment is marked with a Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) in accordance with the requirements listed in AS/NZS 4417.1 & AS/NZS 4417.2.

Further information is available on the EESS website about compliance with EESS by the second or subsequent supplier.

Download a printable copy of the Fact sheet.

Fee schedule for equipment safety

The fee schedule for electrical equipment applications and penalties is available on our website here.

Selling Extra Low Voltage (ELV) and battery-operated equipment

Extra Low Voltage (ELV) is electrical equipment that operates at a voltage below 50V AC RMS or 120V (ripple-free DC). Equipment operating at ELV can still present a safety hazard, hence the need to ensure that they comply with the relevant product safety standard.

In Victoria, all electrical equipment, including those that are ELV powered, are required to be electrically safe before they are offered for sale.

Download a printable copy of the Info sheet.