Directive 2009/125/EC sets out a framework for the European Commission to lay down harmonised ecodesign1 minimum requirements for energy-related products that are sold in the European Union (EU). It does not apply to means of transport used to carry people or goods.
It seeks to improve the energy efficiency2 of products and the protection of the environment, thus contributing to sustainable development, and doing so in a harmonised way to support the EU single market and avoid market fragmentation and higher prices that could result from diverging national rules on the same aspects.
KEY POINTS
Ecodesign requirements may cover all stages of a product’s life cycle and the repair and recycling at end of life. The focus so far has been, in most cases, on in-use energy consumption because action in that area was prioritised. The most recent regulations, however, have a more holistic perspective, considering the entirety of the energy used during the product’s lifetime. For electronic products in particular, the manufacturing phase accounts for anywhere from one third to even two thirds of the energy used during the product’s lifetime, suggesting requirements to maximise the use of this embodied energy with requirements on reliability and reparability, to extend the product lifetime, and recyclability, to more efficiently recover materials.
Products that satisfy the requirements bear the CE marking and may be sold anywhere in the EU.
Implementing acts
By means of implementing acts adopted under the directive, the Commission has established ecodesign requirements for the placing on the market of the following goods:
household dishwashers (Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008);
fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW (Regulation (EU) No 327/2011);
air conditioners and comfort fans (Regulation (EU) No 206/2012);
Regulation (EU) 2023/826, which repeals Regulations (EC) Nos 1275/2008 and 107/2009, lays down ecodesign requirements for off mode, standby mode and networked standby energy consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment, and will apply from .
Repeal
Directive 2009/125/EC was repealed by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (see summary) as of . However, some rules of the directive will remain in force to allow for the adoption of measures that were being developed under it (until 2026) or to amend those already in force (until 2030). Furthermore, implementing acts adopted under the directive will remain in force until they are repealed.
FROM WHEN DO THE RULES APPLY?
The directive had to be transposed into national law by . The regulations setting ecodesign requirements for specific product groups are binding in all Member States and create obligations from the application date(s) set in the individual regulations.
Ecodesign. The integration of environmental aspects into product design with the aim of improving the environmental performance of the product throughout its whole life cycle.
Energy efficiency. Using less energy to provide the same service. Examples in terms of products are energy-efficient fridges and washing machines.
MAIN DOCUMENT
Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast) (OJ L 285, , pp. 10–35).
Successive amendments to Directive 2009/125/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2534 of supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of household tumble dryers and repealing Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 392/2012 (C/2023/4741) (OJ L, 2023/2534, ).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/826 of laying down ecodesign requirements for off mode, standby mode, and networked standby energy consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 1275/2008 and (EC) No 107/2009 (OJ L 103, , pp. 29–47).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/424 of laying down ecodesign requirements for servers and data storage products pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 617/2013 (OJ L 74, , pp. 46–66).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1781 of laying down ecodesign requirements for electric motors and variable speed drives pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Regulation (EC) No 641/2009 with regard to ecodesign requirements for glandless standalone circulators and glandless circulators integrated in products and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 640/2009 (OJ L 272, , pp. 74–94).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1782 of laying down ecodesign requirements for external power supplies pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 278/2009 (OJ L 272, , pp. 95–106).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1783 of amending Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 on implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to small, medium and large power transformers (OJ L 272, , pp. 107–120).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1784 of laying down ecodesign requirements for welding equipment pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 272, , pp. 121–135).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2019 of laying down ecodesign requirements for refrigerating appliances pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 643/2009 (OJ L 315, , pp. 187–208).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 of laying down ecodesign requirements for light sources and separate control gears pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 244/2009, (EC) No 245/2009 and (EU) No 1194/2012 (OJ L 315, , pp. 209–240).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2021 of laying down ecodesign requirements for electronic displays pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 642/2009 (OJ L 315, , pp. 241–266).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2024 of laying down ecodesign requirements for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 315, , pp. 313–334).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/2281 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products, with regard to ecodesign requirements for air heating products, cooling products, high temperature process chillers and fan coil units (OJ L 346, , pp. 1–50).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1095 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for professional refrigerated storage cabinets, blast cabinets, condensing units and process chillers (OJ L 177, , pp. 19–51).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1185 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for solid fuel local space heaters (OJ L 193, , pp. 1–19).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1188 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for local space heaters (OJ L 193, , pp. 76–99).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1189 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for solid fuel boilers (OJ L 193, , pp. 100–114).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 66/2014 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for domestic ovens, hobs and range hoods (OJ L 29, , pp. 33–47).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 of on implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to small, medium and large power transformers (OJ L 152, , pp. 1–15).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1253/2014 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for ventilation units (OJ L 337, , pp. 8–26).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 617/2013 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for computers and computer servers (OJ L 175, , pp. 13–33).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 666/2013 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for vacuum cleaners (OJ L 192, , pp. 24–34).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 801/2013 of amending Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 with regard to ecodesign requirements for standby, off mode electric power consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment, and amending Regulation (EC) No 642/2009 with regard to ecodesign requirements for televisions (OJ L 225, , pp. 1–12).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 813/2013 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for space heaters and combination heaters (OJ L 239, , pp. 136–161).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 814/2013 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for water heaters and hot water storage tanks (OJ L 239, , pp. 162–183).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2012 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for air conditioners and comfort fans (OJ L 72, , pp. 7–27).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 547/2012 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for water pumps (OJ L 165, , pp. 28–36).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 622/2012 of amending Regulation (EC) No 641/2009 with regard to ecodesign requirements for glandless standalone circulators and glandless circulators integrated in products (OJ L 180, , pp. 4–8).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 327/2011 of implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW (OJ L 90, , pp. 8–21).
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 of implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for standby and off mode electric power consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment (OJ L 339, , pp. 45–52).