The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published its response to the consultation on raising product standards for household tumble dryers on 19 March 2026, confirming that it will proceed with new Ecodesign and Energy Labelling regulations for Great Britain1. The consultation ran from midday on 17 July 2025 to 11:59pm on 14 August 2025 and drew 12 responses from private individuals, manufacturers, retailers, trade associations, academia and a consultancy1.
The government said it would proceed "broadly as consulted upon, with a small number of refinements based on stakeholder feedback"1. Those refinements are an ecodesign transition period extended to 10 months, a rescaled energy label including a repairability icon made mandatory from the end of that period, a post-implementation review date of 9 December 2032, and corrections to minor drafting issues to bring GB requirements into line with EU Regulations 2023/2533 and 2023/25341.
"raise the Minimum Energy Performance Standards of household tumble dryers being sold on the GB market. This will phase out less efficient air-vented, gas-fired and condenser household tumble dryers and enable only the most efficient heat pump household tumble dryers"
The measures also set stricter requirements for products in off-mode or standby mode, and raise 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. A set of circular economy measures covers repair and maintenance for end-users and resource efficiency in design and manufacturing, including improvements to technical documentation and new requirements on the availability of spare parts1. Labelling changes reform the existing energy efficiency and condensation efficiency scales and introduce new acoustic airborne noise emission and repairability index scales1.
| Decision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ecodesign transition period | Extended to 10 months |
| Rescaled energy label | Mandatory from end of the 10 month transition period, including repairability icon |
| Post-implementation review | 9 December 2032 |
| Condensation efficiency | Minimum standard raised to 80% |
| Alignment | Minor drafting corrections to align with EU Regulations 2023/2533 and 2023/2534 |
The response sits alongside a final stage impact assessment and the two statutory instruments, The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Household Tumble Dryers) Regulations 2026 and The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) Regulations 20261. The page was updated on 24 March 2026 to add the link to the Regulations1.
Why it matters for households
Tumble dryers are among the more energy-hungry appliances in a home, so the standard a machine has to meet when sold shapes both running costs and how much a household depends on grid electricity for laundry. Raising the minimum energy performance standard so that only heat pump dryers can be sold in Great Britain changes what is available on the market rather than what is already installed, and the 10 month transition period means the shift is not immediate1. The 80% minimum condensation efficiency standard addresses a different household concern: machines that leave moisture in the room, which the department links to damp, mould and potential structural damage1. The repairability icon and spare parts requirements bear on how long a machine can be kept working, which affects the case for replacing rather than repairing. The rules apply to Great Britain; the consultation notes regulatory alignment with the EU and Northern Ireland as a topic respondents raised, but the outcome does not set out separate positions for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland1. The Energy Labels and Ecodesign Rules for Household Appliances guide covers how these labels work in practice, and Product Markings and Standards explains the markings that accompany them.
What happens next
The government response and the final stage impact assessment are published1. The two sets of Regulations are on the Legislation website, and the page was updated on 24 March 2026 to link to them1. The post-implementation review date is 9 December 20321. No commencement date for the new requirements is given in the outcome text.