Energy efficiency labelling

PURPOSE: to update existing legislation on energy labelling to achieve better energy efficiency.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting a framework for energy labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU.

CONTENT: this Regulation replaces the legislation in force (Directive 2010/30/EU). It provides for the labelling of energy-related products and the provision of standard product information regarding energy efficiency of products, the consumption of energy and of other resources by products during use.

Energy efficiency is a key element of the EU climate and energy framework for 2030. The new Regulation shall enable customers to choose more efficient products to reduce their energy consumption. It seeks to contribute to energy savings and reduction of energy bills, while encouraging innovation and investment in the production of more energy efficient products.

The main elements of the new regulation are as follows:

Updating labels: the Regulation sets deadlines to replace the current efficiency classes A +, A ++ and A +++ with a scale from A to G. Each letter representing a class and each class corresponding to energy savings, in seven different colours from dark green to red, in order to inform customers about energy efficiency and energy consumption.

Obligations of suppliers and dealers: where a supplier places a product on the market, each unit of the product must be accompanied by a paper label. The displayed label shall be clearly visible and identifiable as pertaining to the product in question without the customer having to read the name of the mark and the model number on the label and shall draw the customer's attention to the product.

The reseller shall display in a visible manner, including in the case of online distance selling, the label received from the supplier. He will be able to download the product information sheet from the product database.

The supplier shall inform the consumer in the event of updates affecting the energy efficiency of a product already placed on the market and used.

Procedure for the introduction and rescaling of labels: the Regulation establishes a procedure for the rescaling of labels in accordance with technological developments.

With a view to establishing a homogeneous A to G scale, the Regulation provides for an initial rescaling of existing labels for certain categories of products.

The Commission shall adopt:

• by 2 August 2023 at the latest, delegated acts introducing revised labels for product groups covered by delegated acts adopted under Directive 2010/30/EU. Rescaled labels shall be displayed, both in stores and online, 18 months after the entry into force of the delegated acts adopted for that purpose;
• by 2 November 2018 at the latest, delegated acts introducing rescaled labels for products such as dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and electrical lamps, with an additional period of 12 months for displaying the rescaled labels in shops;
• no later than 2 August 2026, delegated acts introducing rescaled labels for water heaters and boilers, as the technology of these product groups evolves at a relatively slow pace.

In any event, the delegated acts introducing A to G rescaled labels shall be adopted by 2 August 2030 at the latest.

In order to keep pace with progress on energy efficiency, rescaling of labels shall be undertaken if the Commission estimates that:

• 30 % of the units of models belonging to a product group sold within the Union market fall into the top energy efficiency class A; or
• 50 % of the units of models belonging to a product group sold within the Union market fall into the top two energy efficiency classes A and B.

In order to avoid over burdening suppliers and dealers, and, in particular, small businesses, the timescale of approximately 10 years would be desirable for the frequency of rescaling. Member States shall ensure that the introduction of labels and rescaling of labels is accompanied by educational and promotional information campaigns on energy labelling, if appropriate in cooperation with suppliers and dealers.

Product database: the Commission shall establish and maintain a product database consisting of a public and a compliance part, which should be accessible via an online portal.

Operational from January 2019 onwards, it will enable market surveillance authorities in the Member States to monitor the application of labelling requirements and to ensure that the calculations performed to determine the efficiency label correspond to those declared by the manufacturers.

ENTRY INTO FORCE AND APPLICATION: as from 1.8.2017. The provisions relating to the obligations of suppliers in relation to the product database shall apply from 1.1.2019.

DELEGATED ACTS: the Commission may adopt delegated acts in order to establish specific product groups for energy-related products on the basis of a set of criteria and to design specific information labels for each product. The power to adopt such acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of six years (renewable) from 1 August 2017. The European Parliament or the Council shall have the right to object to a delegated act within a period of two months (extendable two months) from the notification of the act.