From 1 July 2020, Euro Stage II certified products can no longer be imported into Australia under the transitional arrangements that commenced on 1 July 2018. For further information, refer to product emissions standards frequently asked questions.
The Product Emissions Standards scheme sets emissions limits for non-road spark ignition engines used in outdoor power equipment and marine vessels. Australian importers, manufacturers and suppliers must ensure their products meet the standards. This includes labelling, record-keeping and reporting requirements.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment administers the standards. This includes compliance, enforcement and education activities. To support ongoing improvement, the department has developed a Regulator Evaluation Framework which provides an ongoing measure of our performance.
Monitoring and evaluation help us to understand:
- the environmental and health outcomes of the standards
- how the standards affect the regulated community
- the expectations of the regulated community
- ways we can improve the scheme to make it as simple and effective as possible.
Monitoring and evaluation activities
Monitoring helps us react to potential problems before they escalate. The department conducts monitoring activities using proactive and responsive methods such as:
- engaging with regulated entities and stakeholders
- receiving intelligence from industry or members of the community
- collecting and analysing data and information, such as import data.
The department regularly reviews its compliance work plan, internal business processes, communications and cost-recovery model.
A mid-term evaluation will be undertaken in 2021. This will assess the effectiveness of the delivery of the standards. It will also identify achievements and priority areas for revision.
Legislative requirements
The Product Emissions Standards Act 2017 requires a periodic review of its operations. The first review will begin after seven years and then every ten years. The Minister will receive a report of its outcomes.
The report will be tabled in Parliament within 15 sitting days.
The standards meet the requirements of Commonwealth legal and policy frameworks including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and the Commonwealth Charging Framework.