A BEE star label is compulsory only for appliances that the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has notified under its mandatory regime, such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, ceiling fans, LED lamps and distribution transformers. For other appliances on the voluntary list, labelling is optional but follows the same rules once you opt in. Registration is done online on the BEE Star Label portal, first for the company and brand and then for each model.
What the Standards & Labelling programme is
BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, set up under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. Its Standards & Labelling (S&L) programme prescribes minimum energy performance standards and a star rating scale for appliances, so buyers can compare running costs. More stars mean higher efficiency. The programme overview is on the BEE website.
The programme now operates under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labeling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026, which the BEE portal’s SOP and FAQs refer to for fees, documents, renewals and penalties.
Mandatory appliances
At the time of writing, BEE’s mandatory appliance list includes:
| Category | Mandatory appliances (as listed by BEE) |
|---|---|
| Cooling and refrigeration | Frost-free refrigerators, direct cool refrigerators, room air conditioners (fixed and variable speed), cassette, floor-standing, ceiling and corner ACs, light commercial ACs, chillers, deep freezers |
| Home appliances | Washing machines, stationary storage type electric water heaters, ceiling fans, domestic LPG stoves |
| Electronics | Colour televisions, Ultra-High Definition (UHD) televisions |
| Lighting | LED lamps |
| Power equipment | Distribution transformers, grid-connected solar inverters |
The same page shows induction hobs as mandatory with effect from 1 January 2027, and tubular fluorescent lamps as discontinued with effect from 1 July 2026.
Voluntary appliances
BEE’s voluntary appliance list is longer and includes, among others:
- General-purpose industrial motors and submersible pump sets
- Computers (notebooks and laptops) and office equipment (printers, copiers, scanners, MFDs)
- Ballasts, solid-state inverters, diesel generator sets and diesel engine-driven monoset pumps
- Microwave ovens, solar water heaters, side-by-side and multi-door refrigerators
- Pedestal fans and table/wall fans
- Air compressors, packaged boilers, refrigerant compressors and commercial beverage coolers
- Evaporative air coolers, EV chargers, high-energy lithium traction batteries, tyres and solar photovoltaic modules
Voluntary does not mean unregulated. Once a model carries a star label, it is subject to the same verification and check testing as a mandatory product.
Note: BEE periodically tightens star rating tables. The BEE portal carries advisories on upgraded star rating tables for distribution transformers and LED lamps with effect from 1 January 2027, and on validity extensions for fans and tyres. A model that is 5-star today may be re-rated lower under the new table, so check the advisory for your category and plan relabelling and stock in advance.
Who can register
BEE’s portal FAQs state that permittees, manufacturers, importers, original equipment manufacturers and brand owners of notified appliances can register. In practice, the entity that registers becomes the permittee responsible for the label: it pays the fees, reports production and answers for check-test results. That has a few consequences worth deciding early:
- Contract manufacturing. If a brand owner sources from a contract manufacturer, agree in writing who will hold the registration and who will report production.
- Importers. An importer registering a foreign brand needs reliable access to test data and production quantities from the overseas factory.
- Multiple categories. One registered manufacturer can apply for models across several appliance categories, but each category follows its own schedule, test standard and star rating table.
How BEE registration works
The steps below follow BEE’s Standard Operating Procedure for registration (Version 2.0, updated 4 February 2026).
Stage 1: Company and brand registration
- Go to the portal, choose Login > Manufacturers > Register New Agency/Manufacturer and accept the disclaimer.
- Enter company, brand and appliance details. Small-scale units can tick the SSI option and upload the supporting certificate.
- Upload the required documents, including a list of authorised retailers and dealers in the format provided on the portal.
- Review and submit. You receive a reference ID and an email to verify the account.
- Pay the company registration fee and the label security deposit through the portal.
The SOP notes that each brand is treated as an individual company, so a manufacturer with two brands completes this stage twice.
Stage 2: Model registration
- Log in and start a New Application for the model.
- Enter technical details and upload test reports and other documents across the application pages.
- Pay the label permission fee for the model application.
- Upload a sample star label in the format the portal specifies.
- BEE reviews the application and, once approved, the label can be generated through the portal.
BEE’s FAQs state that appliances must be tested in BEE-recognised laboratories as specified in the product guidelines for each category, and that model registration remains valid for the period notified for the category and star rating plan.
Stage 3: Ongoing compliance
- Production data and label fees. Permittees upload quarterly production data, with a CA-certified report, and pay the labelling fee calculated by the portal.
- Retailer and distributor details. BEE has issued notices requiring permittees to submit these.
- Check testing. BEE may pick registered models from the market and test them at any time under its check testing scheme. Failures can lead to action under the 2026 Regulations.
- Label changes and renewals. Changes to a lower rating, re-rating under a new table and renewal of model registration are handled through the portal.
Mandatory or voluntary: which applies to you?
A quick way to decide:
- Find your appliance on BEE’s lists. Match the exact type, not just the family. For example, frost-free and direct cool refrigerators are mandatory, while side-by-side and multi-door refrigerators appear on the voluntary list.
- Check the scope in the schedule. Each appliance schedule defines the ratings, capacities and types covered. A product outside the defined scope is not covered by that schedule.
- Look for effective dates. An appliance can move from voluntary to mandatory, as the induction hob listing shows.
- Decide on voluntary labelling commercially. For voluntary products, a star label can be a useful selling point with buyers who compare running costs, but it brings the same fees, reporting and check-testing exposure as a mandatory product.
Common mistakes
- Testing at the wrong lab. Reports must come from a laboratory recognised for that appliance category.
- Forgetting the brand rule. Selling under a second brand without registering it separately.
- Ignoring table revisions. Printing labels against an outgoing star rating table.
- Lapsed production data. BEE has issued notices on outstanding production data and labelling fees for past years; unpaid dues can hold up new approvals.
- Overseas access. Foreign manufacturers working from outside India need their IP addresses whitelisted before they can use the portal.
- Confusing BEE with BIS. Many labelled appliances also need BIS certification for safety. The two are separate approvals.
How Aaditech can help
Aaditech prepares and files BEE registrations for manufacturers and importers, coordinates testing at recognised laboratories, and keeps production data and renewals on schedule. We have also been appointed by BEE as an Independent Agency for Monitoring and Evaluation, so we understand how the programme is assessed in the field. See our BEE star rating registration service.