Regulatory ยท BEE Registration
BEE Registration & Star Rating
Mandatory energy-efficiency labelling for ACs, fridges, fans, and more.
What is BEE Registration & Star Rating?
BEE Star Rating is a mandatory labelling programme under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001) that rates appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, ceiling fans, and pumps from 1 to 5 stars based on energy consumption. Manufacturers and importers must register each model before sale and display the current-year label, since rating thresholds are periodically tightened.
The Standards & Labelling programme exists to steer consumers toward more energy-efficient appliances, reduce national electricity demand, and push manufacturers to continuously improve product efficiency as star thresholds are revised over time.
BEE runs the Standards & Labelling programme in two tracks: a mandatory track for high-consumption appliance categories (air conditioners, refrigerators, tube lights, ceiling fans, and others notified over time) where a current-year star label is a precondition of sale, and a voluntary track for categories BEE has not yet mandated, where a rating is pursued purely for market differentiation. Both tracks use the same underlying testing and application process on BEE's portal.
A defining feature of this scheme is that the rating bar keeps moving โ BEE periodically revises the energy-consumption thresholds that separate, say, a 3-star from a 5-star rating, typically on a multi-year review cycle per category. A model that qualified for 5 stars under one label period can slip to a lower rating (or fall out of compliance entirely) once new thresholds take effect, which is why registrations need periodic re-testing even without any change to the product itself.
Products/Activities Covered
Who Needs It
Types & Categories
Mandatory Labelling
Categories like ACs, refrigerators, and tube lights where star labelling is compulsory before sale.
Voluntary Labelling
Categories where BEE registration is optional but often adopted for market differentiation.
Key Benefits
Documents Required
- Product test report from a BEE-approved lab
- Technical specifications and model details
- Manufacturer/importer registration proof
- Business incorporation and GST documents
- Label artwork showing star rating placement
Our Process
Category & Threshold Check
We confirm whether your appliance category is under mandatory or voluntary labelling and identify the current rating thresholds that apply.
Model Testing
The appliance model is tested at a BEE-recognised lab to determine its energy performance.
Online Application
We file the registration on BEE's portal with test data and technical specifications.
Label Allotment
On approval, the star label (valid for the notified label period) is allotted for use on the product and packaging.
Renewal Tracking
We track your label period's expiry and coordinate re-testing/re-registration ahead of the threshold revision so your rating stays current.
Validity & Renewal
Star labels are tied to a specific label period set by BEE per appliance category โ historically often 1โ2 years, though BEE has more recently moved several categories to standard multi-year cycles (for example, a 1 January 2026 โ 31 December 2028 window has been used across a number of categories). When a period ends, thresholds are typically revised upward, requiring re-testing and re-registration to display a current label โ we track your category's specific label period and flag the revision window in advance.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Selling a BEE-notified appliance without a valid, current-year star label breaches the equipment/appliance energy-consumption standards under Section 14 of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, and non-compliance with that requirement is punishable under Section 26 with a penalty that can extend up to โน10,000 per failure, plus a continuing penalty of up to โน1,000 for each day the failure continues โ separate from the product being pulled from retail and e-commerce listings for lacking a valid label.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the star label expire?
Yes โ BEE periodically revises rating thresholds, and registrations must be renewed/re-tested against the current label criteria to remain valid.
Is BEE registration required for every model variant?
Generally yes โ each distinct model/capacity variant needs its own registration and label.
What happens if my product's rating drops after a threshold revision?
The model needs to be re-tested and re-labelled at the revised rating (or improved to hold its previous rating); continuing to display the old label after a revision takes effect is non-compliant.
Is BEE registration required for exported appliances?
Star labelling applies to appliances sold within India; products manufactured purely for export are generally outside its scope, though we confirm this against your specific supply chain.
Can voluntary categories become mandatory later?
Yes โ BEE periodically expands the mandatory list, so registering voluntarily ahead of that shift can ease the eventual transition.
Has BEE's fee structure changed recently?
Yes โ BEE has moved toward a more formalised labelling fee framework in recent years, including a company registration fee, a per-application label permission fee, and a label security deposit per appliance (refundable subject to compliance), on top of per-model testing costs โ we confirm the fee schedule in force at the time you file, since this has been revised more than once.
Is the label period the same length for every appliance category?
No โ different appliance categories have historically run on different label-period lengths, though BEE has been moving several categories toward standard multi-year cycles; we track the specific window that applies to your product category so re-testing happens before, not after, the current label expires.
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