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Singapore: MEPS and MELS Requirements Grace Period Ends

Home / Country Update / Singapore: MEPS and MELS Requirements Grace Period Ends

The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore has issued important circulars regarding the mandatory compliance requirements for regulated goods under the Energy Conservation Act (ECA). These updates, detailed in Circular NEA-LSD-CIRCULAR-ECA-00001-2026 and NEA-LSD-CIRCULAR-ECA-00002-2025, outline the implementation of new and revised Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS).

The primary objective of these regulations is to improve energy efficiency across commercial and household appliances, contributing to Singapore’s broader climate change mitigation goals. The new requirements officially took effect on April 1, 2025.

Singapore on map device regulatory update

Newly Regulated Goods: Commercial Refrigerators and Water Heaters

Starting April 1, 2025, two new categories of goods will be regulated under the ECA: commercial storage refrigerators (CSRs) and water heaters. All CSRs, including chillers, freezers, and combination types, must achieve an Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) of 95 or lower. Water heaters intended for household use, including electric storage, electric instantaneous, gas instantaneous, and heat pump water heaters, must meet a minimum Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of 0.40.
 
Suppliers must register these goods with the NEA and affix the appropriate energy labels. The online registration portal for these newly regulated items will open on March 3, 2025. Additionally, the NEA has issued specific advisories regarding the testing of instantaneous water heaters, noting that test reports showing a UEF greater than 1.00 or recovery efficiency above 100% will not be accepted. Suppliers of CSRs using flammable refrigerants, such as R290, must also comply with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) regulatory requirements.

Revised MEPS for Existing Regulated Goods

The circulars also detail revised MEPS requirements for goods that are already regulated under the ECA.
 
These revisions, which also take effect on April 1, 2025, apply to:
  • 8K Televisions: Televisions with a resolution of 33,177,600 pixels must meet new active power limits and maintain a passive standby power of 0.50W or less.
  • Split-Type Air-Conditioners: Single-phase split-type air-conditioners (including single-phase VRF) up to 17.6kW cooling capacity are subject to stricter Coefficient of Performance (COP) requirements and standby power limits.
  • Household Refrigerators: Refrigerators up to 900L adjusted volume, including those with or without freezers and through-the-door ice dispensers, must adhere to updated Annual Energy Consumption (AEC) limits based on their adjusted volume.

Transition Period and Compliance Enforcement

To facilitate a smooth transition, the NEA has established a one-year grace period. Suppliers have until March 31, 2026, to clear existing stock of non-compliant goods that were imported or manufactured in Singapore before April 1, 2025.

From April 1, 2026 onwards, all regulated goods supplied in Singapore must be fully registered with the NEA and meet the prescribed MEPS and MELS requirements. Compliance is mandatory, and the supply of non-compliant regulated goods is an offense under Section 12 of the ECA. The NEA will conduct enforcement checks, and companies found to be non-compliant may face convictions and fines of up to $10,000.

For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity. 

Quick Country Facts

Singapore

Certification Body: Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

Certification Type: Mandatory

License Validity: 60 Months

Application Language: English

Legal License Holder: Local Representative

In-Country Testing Requirement: Testing Not Required

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