Energy and tyre labelling: simplification and digitalisation
PURPOSE: to simplify and enhance the use of digital options for energy and tyre labelling rules.
PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
BACKGROUND: energy product legislation is a long-standing policy framework that originated in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis, and which has since been gradually refined and extended, now covering products representing an estimated annual turnover of more than EUR 500 billion, and related energy and other operational costs for users of more than twice that amount.
In response to the Draghi report, the Competitiveness Compass identified the urgent need for simplification and for deepening the internal market as horizontal enablers for competitiveness. The Commission has set targets to cut administrative costs by 25 % for all business and public authorities and by 35 % for small to medium-sized enterprises. The Draghi report also pointed to insufficient market surveillance, enforcement and compliance as a major shortcoming in the implementation of the EU ecodesign and energy labelling frameworks. The affordable energy action plan includes action on labelling to contribute to lower energy bills for households.
As part of its commitment to screen the entire EU acquis, the Commission therefore announced in its 2026 work programme an omnibus initiative (Omnibus XII) on energy-related product legislation.
CONTENT: this proposal aims to make targeted changes to:
- Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 on energy labelling; and
- Regulation (EU) 2020/740 on tyre labelling.
The proposal does not change the scope or objectives of the labelling framework and preserves the main policy objective of information disclosure, which enables customers and end users to make informed purchasing decisions.
The proposal introduces targeted changes to:
- simplify the rules applicable to suppliers and distributors without compromising the provision of necessary information to customers and end users, while optimizing access to this information and facilitating product comparison; and
- improve compliance with and application of regulations by clarifying legal concepts and making better use of the opportunities offered by digital technology.
More specifically, these changes aim to:
- introduce greater flexibility in how labels are displayed, depending on the product, while ensuring that consumers always see the information when purchasing;
- reduce administrative complexity and cumulative burden by providing the possibility to adjust supplier obligation to accompany each unit with a printed label in view of the particular characteristics of the product; remove the option for dealers to request printed product information sheets;
- facilitate, in terms of energy labelling, the updating of labels by suppliers and traders when energy ratings are revised;
- clarify the responsibilities of representatives of manufacturers from third countries with regard to both energy labelling and tyres;
- remove the obligation for suppliers of tyres and energy-related products to enter a separate label image in the European Product Register for Energy Labelling (EPREL) since the product database automatically generates these labels;
- ensure that the QR code that is compulsory on revised labels and the EPREL registration number are transmitted along the supply chain;
- digitalise product information for easier display in shops as well as easier and more long-term access to product life span related information accessible in the product database to end users/consumers such as maintenance information, information on spare parts and end of life product:
- simplify the legal process for updating tire labels, better support public procurement and facilitate market surveillance using EPREL, for example by ensuring that certain product information that is now missing is available in digital form.