Check Testing Scheme Amendment for BEE Star Labeling

If you've ever gone shopping for appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, or geysers, you've probably noticed star ratings on the appliances. These are known as BEE star labels, and they indicate how much power an appliance uses over the course of a year. Each appliance is rated from one to five stars, with five stars indicating that it is exceptionally energy efficient and will help you save money on your electricity costs.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), an Indian government department under the Ministry of Power, is responsible for issuing these star marks.

BEE star labels have become a key consideration for those wanting to buy appliances in India, but they are more than just a star rating.
Check Testing Scheme
a) BEE will undertake a market-wide label verification survey to determine the availability of registered models at various authorized dealers/retailers/warehouses of label users.

b) The label's user is required to submit quarterly information on the products they create. This indicates how many units of a certain model have been sold on the market. This will also indicate whether or not the model is currently available on the market.

c) The label's user must assure that a model for which production has begun will be available for at least one year on the market. During this time, the model cannot be removed.

d) The label's user must make location information about the models' availability public.

e) If no production is carried out during the first six months of the label being awarded, the manufacturer must revalidate and confirm that production has begun, and condition "c" will apply. This process would last for a maximum of three years, which corresponds to the label's validity.

f) As part of the check-testing procedure, BEE would undertake random sampling in the market and purchase models from there.

g) If the first model fails, BEE will purchase two additional samples of the same model from the market for witness testing. The label's user would be notified of the failure and invited to see the second testing.

h) If the first sample fails, the user of the label is responsible for the expense of obtaining the next two samples of the same model as well as the cost of check testing. If the label's user does not compensate/reimburse the costs, BEE will proceed with the testing, and the results will be binding on the label's user. However, BEE will not process any new applications for label approval for the corresponding permittee's new product.

i) If a model for 2nd check testing is available on the market and the precise site of sample availability is known, the label's user (permittee) will not be required to furnish samples.

j) If samples are not available on the market and all attempts to track them down fail, BEE will write to the user of the label (permittee) and ask them to deliver a sample within one month of receiving the letter.
If the label's user is unable to supply a sample for the second check testing, the first sample's check testing will be considered final and binding on the label's user.

k) BEE will notify the label user (permittee) of the date of the second check testing to be seen. If the label's user refuses to witness the second check test, BEE will conduct the test in the presence of an IAME inspecting engineer, and the test result will be binding on the label's user.

l) If the two samples collected for the second test fail as well, IAME shall notify the permittee, informing all State Designated Agencies, that the permittee must—within two months—

i. Change the star rating on the product's label or eliminate the faults and shortcomings discovered during testing;
ii. Withdraw all stocks from the market to comply with the Bureau's directives; and
iii. Change the information on advertising materials.

m) Within two months, BEE will publish the name of any permittee, brand name, model name or model number, logo, and other specification for the advantage of consumers in any national or regional daily newspaper, and in any electronic or other means it deems appropriate;

n) Within ten days of the end of the two-month period referred to in clause (l), the permittee shall:

i. Send the compliance report as Annexure 1 to the Bureau with respect to action taken in compliance with the direction; and
ii. If the compliance report referred to in clause (I) is not received or is received without complying with any of the directions within the specified period, it shall be deemed as non-compliance of the direction issued and orders to be issued.

Also Read : https://www.corpseed.com/service/bee-registration