Australia

Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012

Legislative

Law

Passed in 2012

The Act promotes the development and adoption of products that use less energy, produce fewer GHGs, or contribute to the reducing of energy or GHGs produced by other products. It is also intended to give effect to Australia's obligations under the UNFCCC.

It establishes greenhouse and energy minimum standards (GEMS) that are to be applied to the supply and commercial use of products that either use energy, or affect the energy used by another product. The specific GEMS are provided for by requirements in Ministerial determinations. A GEMS register is established to ensure products comply with GEMS. An associated act is the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Registration Fees) Instrument 2013 (No. 2) which specifies the fees payable under the 2012 act.