On the way to buy a new air conditioner? Replacing a refrigerator? Please note: Israel is adapting itself to the European standard and starting tomorrow (1.9.22), electrical appliances can be imported into the country on the basis of compliance with the legal European import requirements regarding energy efficiency
According to an estimate by the Ministries of Economy and Industry and Energy: the import value of the products that will be introduced as part of the reform in the European route is estimated at NIS 2.5 billion, including refrigerators, clothes dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens and air conditioners
Minister of Energy, Karin Elharer: “The reform will significantly ease the processes of importing electrical products to Israel, will reduce its costs and increase competition in the field and the variety of products. In addition, the reform is expected to bring more energy efficient products to Israel, and hence it is expected that it will lead to economic savings in electricity. The reform is a significant step in promoting economic energy efficiency , which will help the government’s efforts to meet the emission reduction goals it committed to at the climate conference.”
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Orna Barbibai: “The energy chapter of the reform, which will significantly ease the import of electrical products to Israel and encourage more importers to take part in it, is extremely significant for the completion of the overall import reform. This step will increase competition with the aim of affecting a decrease in the price of products for consumers. Importers, this is your time to join the reform, the relief On the import processes and time – continue to expand imports to Israel”
The reform in the import of electrical products, which will come into effect starting tomorrow, September 1, 22, will allow the import market to be opened, so that any importer who wishes to import an electrical device to Israel (approved under the exemption), will be able to do so without the mandatory requirement of a physical inspection in an approved laboratory for compliance with the Israeli standard before the import, as was required until today.
As an alternative to the physical inspection, the importer will have to declare that the imported product meets the European legal requirements and provide the Ministry of Energy with documents proving this. He will also have to provide an energy rating label, where required. After giving the declaration, and as long as there is no concern that the product does not meet the requirements applicable to it, the importer will automatically receive the approval required for the import.
Below is the list of products to which the reform applies: water cooling units that operate in a vapor compression cycle (chillers), air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, baking ovens, microwave ovens, televisions, lighting fixtures, light bulbs, ballasts for fluorescent lights, Digital bus converters for receiving television broadcasts, caged three-phase asynchronous electric induction motors, information technology equipment and audio equipment.
This reform is part of a broad reform led by the Ministry of Economy and Industry and it focuses on the transition to the methods used in developed markets in the world. This, by changing the methods of monitoring the legality of imports at the gates of entry into Israel for hundreds of products, alongside increasing enforcement in the markets.
The reform is expected to significantly ease the bureaucracy associated with the import process, reduce the testing costs for the importer and reduce the waiting times for the laboratory results. It is estimated that shipments that will pass through the European route may save the importer up to 7% of the cost of the import procedure. As a result of this, the reform has the power to improve the level of competition in the market, lower prices for the consumer and increase the variety of devices sold in Israel.
Along with these concessions, the responsibility for the product’s compliance with the energy requirements, which until now rested on the importer, but subject to inspections prior to the product’s entry into Israel, increases a step further and in order to ensure compliance with these requirements, the Ministry of Energy will expand the enforcement activity in the markets on importers who violate the law.
As mentioned, as part of the reform, the electrical appliances imported to Israel as part of relying on the European regulation, will be joined starting today with a new energy rating label, which corresponds to the level of energy efficiency of the electrical appliance. The energy label allows the consumer to compare the performance of different product models and use it to make an informed decision at the time of purchase.
According to the European Union’s estimates, the implementation of the regulations is expected to yield significant energy savings, as well as lead to a reduction in the consumer’s electricity expenses. Moreover, this energy saving has a great environmental contribution, as a result of a reduction in emissions into the air. According to an estimate made, the Ministry of Energy expects that the adoption of the European regulation for electrical products will result in 200 gigawatt hours being saved in Israel as early as 2025, and 1200 gigawatt hours in 2030. This, after most of the electrical products on the market will operate in accordance with the new requirements.