The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Frédérique RIES (ALDE, BE), and approved a text which had been agreed with the Council.
- Priorities for eco-design, due to environmental impact and in particular CO2 emissions throughout the life-cycle, are the following products: heating and water heating equipment, electrical engine systems, lighting in the residential and tertiary sectors, home appliances, office equipment in the residential and tertiary sectors and commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. There is a separate implementing measure reducing stand-by losses for a group of products;
- a new recital states that as a general principle, the energy consumption of EuPs in stand-by or off-mode should be reduced to the minimum necessary for their proper functioning;
- the Commission will conduct preparatory studies and impact assessments alongside “broad consultations with stakeholders” such as businesses and environmental and consumer NGOs. Eco-design requirements will then become legally binding for all products put on the EU market irrespective of where they are designed and produced;
- for the assessment of voluntary agreements or other self-regulation measures presented as alternatives to implementing measures, information on at least the following issues should be available: Openness of participation, added value, representativeness, quantified and staged objectives, involvement of civil society, monitoring and reporting, cost-effectiveness of administering a self-regulatory initiative, sustainability;
- Parliament inserted a definition of “importer” and the responsibilities of the importer. These are to ensure that the EuP placed on the market or put into service complies with the Directive and the applicable implementing measure, and to have the declaration of conformity and the technical documentation available;
- Member States are called upon to ensure that small and medium sized firms have the necessary adaptation resources to cope with future European legislation, in particular by strengthening support networks and structures;
- consumers also have a role to play. Specific implementation measures will set out the manufacturers' consumer information obligations as regards the ecological profile of the product and the benefits of eco-design. Finally, they will have to inform the consumer about the role they may play in reducing energy consumption by sustainable use of the product.