The Energy Management Act 2020, which commenced on 30th October 2020, means that all products covered by the Act and the Regulations must now meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), and some also have to carry a standard energy label (see example in this picture) when they are offered for sale. You can see a copy of the English Act HERE and the Samoan Act HERE and a copy of the Regulations HERE.
The Regulations take effect at different times for different products.
- Household refrigerators and freezers imported into or traded in Samoa must meet MEPS and carry standard energy labels if they were ordered from importers after 4 March 2018. The test standards, MEPS and energy labelling rules are set out in the Regulations.
- Air conditioners imported into or traded in Samoa must meet MEPS and carry standard energy labels from 5 September 2018. The test standards, MEPS and energy labelling rules are set out in the Regulations.
- Lighting products (incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps and ballasts) imported into or traded in Samoa must meet MEPS from 5 March 2019. The test standards and MEPS rules are set out in the Regulations.
For refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, it is unlawful to display an energy label that is not of the standard type.
The Act and Regulations apply to private individuals as well as to appliance wholesalers and retailers and to businesses or government departments importing these products for use in their own buildings or businesses.
Products that were ordered before 4 March 2018 are exempt. To clear a shipment of exempt refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners or lighting products, you will have to apply to the Regulator for a Letter of Confirmation using Form D (which can be downloaded HERE ). Once you receive the Letter you will have to show it to Customs.
Products must be registered in Samoa to prove they have been tested correctly and comply with the MEPS. There are two ways to register a product – electronically, on the Pacific Database, or by submitting Forms to the Regulator. You can access the PAD HERE . The PAD has instructions on how to enter data. Once you have submitted an application through the PAD it will be emailed to the Samoa regulator for approval, and once it is approved the PAD will create a registration certificate that you can download and print.
You can search for models that have already been registered in Samoa on the PAD HERE .
Models that are already registered in an approved country (Australia, New Zealand or Fiji) can be easily registered in Samoa using Form A (which can be downloaded HERE). You can find a list of products registered in Australia and New Zealand HERE and a list of products registered in Fiji HERE. Or you can contact the Samoa Regulator, who can check for you.
Models that are not already registered in an approved country under the same brand name and model number can be registered in Samoa using Form BC. For products that are registered under a different brand name or model number, you will have to get a supporting letter from the manufacturer confirming that the products are identical in their energy performance even though they have different brand names and/or model numbers.
For products that are not registered in any approved country, you will need to provide a test report from a reputable test laboratory. Contact the Regulator to check first. If you are using the PAD, you can upload the test report and any other documents needed to support your application.
If you are successful with your application for registration, the Regulator (or the PAD) will issue you with a Certificate of Registration that you can take to Customs whenever you wish to import a consignment of those models. The Samoa registration will last for 5 years (for Category C) or as long as the model remains registered in an approved country (for Categories A and B).
However, products that are found to be non-compliant will have their registration cancelled, and it will no longer be lawful to import them or trade in them.
Once a product has been registered in Samoa, anyone can import or trade in that model, whether or not they hold the original Certificate of Registration.
However, if you wish to import products for which you do not hold the Certificate of Registration, you may want a Letter of Confirmation that you can show Customs. You will have to apply to the Regulator for a Letter of Confirmation using Form D (which can be downloaded HERE ).
The steps outlined above are shown in these diagrams – Instructions for Applicants, Registration Procedure, Inspection in the field and Customs official procedures.