United Kingdom: New Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling (MWEL) Regulations

 

UK has published new Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling (MWEL) Regulations 2026.

These Regulations have been developed in accordance with international standard ISO 31600:2022 and impose obligations on both suppliers and dealers.

Suppliers are required to test their products to determine the appropriate water-efficiency banding for products within scope, produce the corresponding labels to be affixed to those products, and provide such labels to dealers free of charge. Suppliers are also responsible for supplying water-efficiency information for inclusion in the relevant database.

Dealers must ensure that the water-efficiency label is clearly visible to consumers at all times at the point of sale.

The measures are intended to:

• reduce water demand in the United Kingdom;
• inform consumers about the water consumption of products through an A–F, colour-coded labelling system, enabling informed purchasing decisions and supporting reductions in water bills; and
• ensure consistent transparency from manufacturers towards consumers, while encouraging the development and manufacture of more water-efficient products.

These Regulations apply only to the following products: taps; showers (including electric showers); toilets; urinals; dishwashers; washing machines; and washer-dryers.

The Regulations do not apply to: second-hand products; taps designed for outdoor use, the supply of instant hot water, use as part of a bath, or as part of a bidet; showers designed for emergency use or for use with recirculated water; commercial dishwashers; commercial washing machines; equipment, fittings, or appliances not intended for connection to a potable water supply network; urinal controllers; or equipment, fittings, or appliances intended for medical purposes.

To find out more about product compliance in UK and the New Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling (MWEL) Regulations in particular, do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.