PURPOSE: to recast Council Directive 92/75/EEC on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products.
PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.
CONTENT: the recast of the Energy Labelling Directive was announced as a priority of the Energy Efficiency Action Planand of the Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy (SCP/SIP) Action Plan (COM(2008)0397).
The SCP/SIP has shown that the limited scope of the Energy Labelling Directive (ELD) restricts its potential to further mitigate climate change and contribute to the EU-wide target of 20% energy efficiency gains by 2020 and achieve the goals of sustainable production and consumption. The SCP/SIP concluded that the Energy Labelling Directive should be amended to indicate, on the one hand, use phase energy consumption/savings and, on the other hand, other relevant and significant environmental parameters of the product.
The impact assessment study shows that the ELD could deliver more savings in energy and reduction of environmental impacts if extended to all energy-related product groups (i.e. those products that have an impact on energy consumption during use). Some other changes can further increase the effectiveness of the ELD, such as the possibility to implement the framework through regulations or decisions instead of directives, and the possibility to set classes of efficiency under which Member States should not provide incentives or procure. Provisions on market surveillance as already introduced under the Eco-design Directive have been added.
The aim of the recast of Council Directive 92/75/EEC is to extend its scope, currently restricted to household appliances, to allow for the labelling of all energy-related products including the household, commercial and industrial sectors and some non-energy using products such as windows which have a significant potential to save energy once in use or installed (means of transport are excluded).
In doing so, it follows the overall objective to ensure the free movement of products and improve their energy efficiency performance, thereby contributing to the Community objectives of strengthening the internal market, innovation, EU's competitiveness, protecting the environment and combating climate change. This would complement existing environmental policy, such as, with regard to energy use, the energy and climate package adopted by the Commission in January 2008.
The resulting framework Directive on labelling which also includes provisions relating to public procurement and incentives will be an essential building block for an integrated sustainable environmental product policy, promoting and stimulating the demand for better products and helping consumers to make better choices.