RETIQ Labels for Air Conditioners in Colombia: What Importers Need to Know

A RETIQ air conditioner is one certified and labeled under Colombia's Reglamento Técnico de Etiquetado, the mandatory energy labeling regulation issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas). Split air conditioners up to 17,580 W of cooling, about 60,000 BTU, must carry the RETIQ label before they can be imported and sold. The label shows the unit's energy efficiency class, its efficiency ratio and its estimated monthly energy use, and it must be backed by a certificate from an accredited certification body.

For importers, RETIQ is the gate to the Colombian market. Without a valid certificate for the exact model, stock can be stopped at customs or pulled from shelves. This guide explains what the rule covers, how the classes work, how certification happens and what to ask your supplier.

What Is RETIQ?

RETIQ stands for Reglamento Técnico de Etiquetado. It is Colombia's technical regulation for energy efficiency labeling of products that use electricity or gas, including refrigerators, motors, water heaters, washing machines and air conditioners. Its aim is to help buyers compare energy use and to move the market toward efficient products. For a household buying an AC that may run for ten hours a day on the Caribbean coast, the difference between classes shows up on every monthly electricity bill.

Three bodies matter:

Which Air Conditioners Need a RETIQ Label?

2020年の決断40247はエアコンのための現在の規模を置きました。 ほぼすべての住宅分裂システムとコロンビアで販売されているヒートポンプは、冷却のみまたは加熱および冷却のために、その範囲内で落ちます。 それはカバーします:

• Fixed installation units, including split ACs, up to 17,580 W of cooling
• Multi-split combinations of indoor and outdoor units
• Precision air conditioners up to 17,580 W
• Portable units above 1,000 W, once their test methods are adopted

Units up to 10,540 W, which covers residential sizes from 9,000 to about 36,000 BTU, were already in scope. The resolution brought units from 10,540 W to 17,580 W into the label requirement from April 1, 2021.

Within that range sit most wall-mounted splits and, in many cases, cassette and ducted indoor units, multi-zone systems sharing a single outdoor unit, and smaller packaged air conditioning systems used in commercial space. Inverter units that cool and heat with a variable speed compressor are covered too. Whether a cooling-only or high-efficiency model, each combination of indoor and outdoor unit needs to be checked against the specification in the regulation, so confirm the scope for each model with your certification body.

How Do RETIQ Efficiency Classes Work?

For split air conditioners, RETIQ uses the EER, the energy efficiency ratio, measured in watts of cooling per watt of electricity at rated conditions. The label also shows estimated energy consumption in kWh per month.

Units are graded in classes, with A as the most efficient. Under Resolution 40247, the class thresholds for units up to 10,540 W tightened from January 1, 2022, when class A moved to an EER of 4.00 W/W or higher.

A further update to the class ranges was due in 2024. MinMinas suspended it through

Why Inverter Units Need a Closer Look Under RETIQ

Here is a detail many importers miss. RETIQ grades split ACs on EER, a full-load measurement. Seasonal ratings such as SEER or CSPF capture the part-load running where inverter units save the most energy. Colombia had planned to use ISO 16358, the seasonal method, but

In practice, an inverter unit's RETIQ class reflects its full-load EER. Two models with the same EER get the same class, even if one saves far more over a season. For distributors, that means:

• Compare the EER and class on the certificate, not the brochure's SEER.
• Use seasonal savings as a sales argument alongside the label, since the label alone won't show it.
• Ask for the part-load and seasonal test data too, so buyers can see the full picture.

What Does the RETIQ Label Show?

The label follows a standard format set by the regulation. For air conditioners it shows:

• Brand, model and type of equipment
• Cooling capacity
• The efficiency class on a colored scale, with A at the top
• The EER value
• Estimated energy consumption in kWh per month
• Reference to the regulation and the certification body

The label must be on the product at the point of sale, so retailers and installers can compare models side by side.

How Does RETIQ Certification Work?

1. Choose a certification body accredited by ONAC for RETIQ air conditioners. Certificates from bodies accredited abroad may be accepted where a recognition agreement applies.
2. Provide technical documents: specifications, manuals, label artwork and the model list.
3. Test. An accredited laboratory measures capacity, power input and EER using the referenced test methods.
4. Certificate. The certification body reviews the results and issues the certificate of conformity for the model or model family.
5. Label and import. The certified label goes on each unit, and the certificate supports the import process.
6. Surveillance. The SIC checks products on the market. Under Resolution 40247, it applies a 5% tolerance to declared energy values.

Some factories already hold RETIQ certificates for their models, which can save importers months. Ask for the certificate number and verify it with the issuing body.

Importing RETIQ Air Conditioner Stock: Practical Points

• Model names must match exactly across the certificate, nameplate, label, invoice and packing list.
• Electrical specifications. Colombia uses 60 Hz, with 110 to 120V household supply and 220V common for larger split units. Order models certified at the voltage you will sell.
• Other regulations. Electrical safety and other technical rules may also apply. Confirm the full list with your certification body and customs broker.
• Spanish documentation. Manuals and warranty terms should be in Spanish.
• Hot coastal demand. Cities on the Caribbean coast run units hard almost all year. Plan spare boards and sensors in local stock.

Selling in Mexico as well? Our guide to NOMの要件その市場をカバーし、ディストリビューターのための中国輸入ガイド調達、点検および船積みを通した歩行.

How Does RETIQ Compare With Other Markets?

Distributors who sell across the Americas often hold several certificates for the same model. The ratings behind them differ, so one number can't be copied onto another market's label.

Each market also tests at its own conditions. A unit can score well under one method and only average under another, and that is normal. The practical step is to request each certificate and test report separately, then check that the model numbers match on every one. It also pays to plan certification for all your target markets at the same time, so the factory can send one batch of samples and one set of documents to several labs.

RETIQ Checklist for Importers

iClimaAir and RETIQ

iClimaAir already holds RETIQ certification for its inverter split range, alongside CE, CB, UL, AHRI, RTCA and ISO 9001. Its inverter split ACs run from 9,000 to 24,000 BTU with R32 refrigerant and boards rated for 180 to 253V, which suits regions where supply voltage swings. See the full list of iClimaAir certifications, compare marks across markets in the air conditioner certifications guide, read the inverter split air conditioner guide, or learn more about iClimaAir.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is RETIQ in Colombia? A: RETIQ is Colombia's mandatory energy labeling regulation, issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. It requires products such as air conditioners, refrigerators and motors to carry a label showing their energy efficiency class and consumption, backed by a certificate from an accredited certification body.

Q: Do all air conditioners need RETIQ in Colombia? A: Fixed installation units, including split and multi-split systems, up to 17,580 W of cooling need the RETIQ label. That covers all common residential and light commercial sizes up to about 60,000 BTU. Portable units above 1,000 W are also in scope once their test methods are adopted.

Q: How is the RETIQ class calculated for air conditioners? A: Split air conditioners are classed by EER, the ratio of cooling output to electrical input at rated conditions, measured by an accredited lab. Class A is the most efficient band. The label also shows estimated monthly energy use in kWh to help buyers compare running costs.

Q: Can I use a RETIQ certificate held by my supplier? A: Often, yes, if the certificate covers your exact models and the scheme allows it. Ask for the certificate number, the issuing body and the model list, and confirm validity with the certification body. Model names on the label, nameplate and invoice must match the certificate.