Product energy consumption: Information and labelling (from July 2011)

The previous Directive on the energy consumption labelling of products applied only to household appliances. The European Commission now intends to widen the application of the Directive to energy-related products having a direct or indirect impact on energy consumption.

ACT

Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products (Text with EEA relevance).

AMENDING ACT

Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC (Text with EEA relevance).

SUMMARY

This Directive establishes a framework for labelling and consumer information regarding energy consumption for energy-related products .

Which products are concerned?

The Directive shall apply to products which are likely to have a direct or indirect impact on the consumption of energy and on other potential resources during use. It does not apply to:

• second-hand products;
• any means of transport for persons or goods;
• product rating plates.

Furthermore, Directive 2012/27/EU, amending Directive 2010/30/EU, establishes a common framework to promote energy efficiency in the Union. The Member States are therefore encouraged to implement cumulative energy efficiency measures rather than energy efficiency measures for each individual product.

What sort of information must be provided?

Suppliers shall place on the market products that have a label containing information on the product’s consumption of electric energy or other forms of energy.

Suppliers must also make available technical documentation including:

• a general description of the product;
• the results of design calculations carried out;
• test reports;
• the references allowing identification of similar models.

The technical documentation must be available for a period of five years.

Suppliers shall provide dealers with labels and product information free of charge.

Dealers must affix labels in such a way that they are visible and legible.

What are the conditions for distance selling?

In some situations, the final consumer does not see the product – in particular when purchasing by mail order, by catalogue or through the Internet. However, the consumer must have access to product information through delegated acts which specify the way in which the label or the fiche is displayed or provided to the end-user.

What is the function of delegated acts?

A delegated act shall indicate in particular:

• a description of the product;
• measurement standards and methods;
• details of the technical documentation;
• the design and content of the label. The classification of the product on the label shall be indicated using the letters A to G. The most efficient class shall be represented by A+++. A scale with a maximum of seven colours shall also be used, and dark green shall always represent the maximum level of efficiency;
• the location where the label shall be fixed to the product;
• the duration of label classification.

If a product is covered by a delegated act, contracting authorities which conclude public works, supply or service contracts as referred to in Directive 2004/18/EC shall procure products which comply with high performance levels, expressed as ‘energy classes’. These criteria are as follows:

• products which allow significant energy savings to be made;
• equivalent products on the market shall have a wide disparity in performance levels;
• the Commission shall take into account relevant EU legislation and self-regulation.

A delegated act shall take into account environmental parameters.

The European Commission has the power to adopt delegated acts for a period of five years from 19 June 2010. The period shall be renewed automatically unless the European Parliament or the Council revoke this right. These two institutions also have the power to object to a delegated act.

Transitional provisions

Member States shall apply the provisions of the Directive from 20 July 2011. This Directive repeals Directive 92/75/EEC from 21 July 2011.

last update 12.11.2013