The government has published its response to the consultation on raising standards for household tumble dryers, confirming that it will repeal and replace the current ecodesign and energy labelling standards for Great Britain with rules aligned to EU Regulations 2023/2533 and 2023/25341. The consultation ran from 17 July to 14 August 2025 and drew 12 responses, including from manufacturers Beko Europe and Anglian Windows, retailers John Lewis and The Very Group, the trade bodies AMDEA, the British Retail Consortium and BIRA, Edinburgh Napier University and the consultancy Guidehouse1.
The final statutory instrument (SI) changes one element of the original proposal: the ecodesign requirements will now take effect after a 10 month transition rather than 6 months, so that "the ecodesign and energy labelling transitional periods now end simultaneously 10 months after the final SI is laid"1. A post-implementation review date of 9 December 2032 has been added1. The government said it intends to lay the SI as soon as parliamentary time allows1.
"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."
Under the new minimum performance standard, only tumble dryers with an Energy Efficiency Index below 85 will remain on the market, phasing out inefficient gas-fired, air-vented and condenser models. All products must have an eco-programme as the default or directly selectable cycle, reach at least 80% condensation efficiency, and meet limits on energy use in off-mode, standby and networked standby1. On repairability, 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 repair and maintenance documentation to professional repairers and end users1. The energy label moves from A+++ to D to an A to G scale, showing energy use per cycle, noise, condensation efficiency and repairability1.
The government estimates the reforms will save 0.29 MtCO₂e during carbon budget 5, 0.15 MtCO₂e during carbon budget 6 and 0.56 MtCO₂e by 2050, with energy savings of 30,710 GWh by 20501. It says a heat pump tumble dryer owner could save £200 over 12 years compared with a condenser model, and up to £910 over a 20-year lifetime1. The government rejected a recommendation to allow EU versions of labels to be used in GB, saying this "could potentially cause confusion for GB consumers", and confirmed the nested energy efficiency label icon must face left, in line with EU regulations1. It noted a potential inconsistency on refrigerant gases but decided to make no changes1.
| Milestone | Timing |
|---|---|
| Suppliers may comply with new GB ecodesign rules or old Regulation (EU) No 932/2012 | From 22 days after the SI is laid |
| Suppliers provide dealers with both current and rescaled labels | From 6 months after the SI is laid |
| New ecodesign rules mandatory; rescaled label with repairability class required | From 10 months after the SI is laid |
| Dealers replace old labels at all points of sale | Within 14 working days from 10 months after laying |
| Post-implementation review | By 9 December 2032 |
Why it matters for households
Tumble dryers are among the more energy-intensive appliances in a home, so the efficiency threshold and the eco-programme requirement bear directly on running costs. The government's own figures put the lifetime saving for a heat pump dryer owner at up to £910 against a condenser model1. The shift to an A to G label, with energy use per cycle and repairability shown, changes what information is available at the point of sale, and the spare parts and repair documentation requirements extend how long a machine can realistically be kept working. Together these affect how much a household depends on the grid for laundry and how long an appliance stays serviceable. The rules sit within the wider framework of energy labels and ecodesign rules for household appliances and UK home energy regulation and policy, with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero responsible for the SI.
What happens next
The SI has not yet been laid; the government says it will do so as soon as parliamentary time allows1. The 22 day, 6 month and 10 month points all run from the laying date, so the compliance dates are not yet fixed. The post-implementation review is dated 9 December 20321.