The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero consultation on raising product standards for household tumble dryers closed at 11:59pm on 14 August 2025, having run from midday on 17 July 20251. The department received 12 responses from a broad range of stakeholders, including private individuals, manufacturers, retailers, manufacturer and retailer trade associations, academia and a consultancy1. Respondents gave feedback on energy efficiency requirements, repairability, transition periods, labelling changes, and the impact of regulatory alignment with the EU and Northern Ireland1.
The consultation set out proposals to raise the Minimum Energy Performance Standards of household tumble dryers sold on the GB market, phasing out less efficient air-vented, gas-fired and condenser models and enabling only the most efficient heat pump dryers, alongside stricter requirements for products in off-mode or standby mode1. It also proposed raising minimum condensation efficiency standards to 80%, which the department said would protect consumers from products carrying a risk of causing damp and mould and reduce potential structural damage to buildings1. Further proposals covered circular economy measures to promote repair and maintenance, including new requirements on the availability of spare parts, and reforms to energy labelling, introducing a new acoustic airborne noise emission and repairability index scale1.
The government response states that the government will proceed with new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling regulations for household tumble dryers in Great Britain, broadly as consulted upon, with a small number of refinements based on stakeholder feedback1. Key changes include extending the ecodesign transition period to 10 months, making the rescaled energy label including the repairability icon mandatory from the end of that period, setting a post-implementation review date of 9 December 2032, and correcting minor drafting issues to bring GB requirements into line with EU Regulations 2023/2533 and 2023/25341.
"Following consultation, the government will repeal and replace the current ecodesign and energy labelling standards for household tumble dryers in GB with new regulations that will bring in requirements in line with the European Union ( EU ) Regulations 2023/2533 and 2023/2534."
The response states that only tumble dryers with an Energy Efficiency Index below 85 will remain on the market, that all products must feature an eco-programme as the default or directly selectable cycle, achieve at least 80% condensation efficiency, and meet strict limits on energy use in off-mode, standby and networked standby settings2. Manufacturers must make critical spare parts such as drums, seals and motors available for at least 10 years after a model is discontinued, and provide detailed repair and maintenance documentation to professional repairers and end-users2. The energy label moves to an A to G scale, replacing the A+++ to D system, and will display energy use per cycle, noise levels, condensation efficiency, and new details on acoustic noise and repairability2.
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum energy performance | Energy Efficiency Index below 85; phases out gas-fired, air-vented and condenser models2 |
| Condensation efficiency | At least 80%2 |
| Spare parts availability | At least 10 years after a model is discontinued2 |
| Energy label scale | A to G, replacing A+++ to D2 |
| Transition period | 10 months for ecodesign and energy labelling1 |
| Post-implementation review | 9 December 20321 |
The response states that the reforms are expected to deliver energy savings of 30,710 GWh by 2050, and that on average a heat pump tumble dryer owner could save £200 over 12 years compared to a condenser model, and up to £910 over a 20-year lifetime2. It also states that the measures will save an estimated 0.29 MtCO₂e during CB5, 0.15 MtCO₂e during CB6, and 0.56 MtCO₂e by 20502.
Why it matters for households
The rules change which tumble dryers can be sold new in Great Britain, and what the label on them tells a buyer. Under the confirmed policy, the least efficient air-vented, gas-fired and condenser models are phased out, leaving heat pump dryers, which the response says cost less to run over time1. The 80% condensation efficiency floor addresses a specific household problem: dryers that leave moisture in the room, which the department links to damp, mould and potential structural damage1. The repairability requirements and the requirement that dryers be designed to facilitate material recovery and recycling at the end of their life cycle are intended to improve product durability, reparability and end-of-life management2. For a household weighing up a purchase, the practical effect is a narrower field of new models, a label that carries running cost, noise and repairability information, and spare parts guaranteed for longer. The product standards and markings framework is where these labelling and conformity rules sit, and the consultation process is how the changes were proposed and settled.
What happens next
The response states: "We intend to lay the SI as soon as parliamentary time allows"2. The page records that the government response was published on 19 March 2026 and that a link to the Regulations was added on 24 March 20261. The final regulations set out a staged timetable: from 22 days after the SI is laid, suppliers must comply with the new GB ecodesign requirements or the old Regulation (EU) No 932/2012 requirements; from 10 months after the SI is laid, all household tumble dryers placed on the GB market must comply with the new ecodesign requirements2. On labelling, from 6 months after the SI is laid suppliers must provide dealers with both the current label or temporary easement label and the rescaled label; from 10 months, the current and easement labels must not be supplied, and dealers must display the rescaled label with the repairability class within 14 working days at all points of sale2. The post-implementation review date is 9 December 20321.