Energy efficiency products: office and communication technology equipment, labelling programme Energy Star

PURPOSE : to establish a Community energy efficiency labelling programme for office equipment. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Regulation 2422/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community energy efficiency labelling for office equipment. CONTENT : this Regulation establishes the rules for the Community energy efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment as defined in the Agreement between the USA and the EU on the coordination of energy efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment. Participation in the Energy Star programmes is on a voluntary basis. The Energy Star programmes shall be coordinated, as appropriate, with other Community labelling or quality certification arrangements as well as with schemes such as the Community eco-label award scheme as established by Regulation 880/92/EEC and the indication by labelling and standard product information of the compensation of energy and other resources by household appliances as established by Directive 92/75/EEC. The common logo, identified in the Annex, may be used by programme participants and other bodies on their individual office equipment products and on the associated promotion. The Commission shall make the maximum effort to encourage the use of the common logo by appropriate awareness-raising actions and information campaigns for consumers, suppliers, dealers and the general public. The Commission shall establish a European Community Energy Star Board (ECESB) consisting of national represenatives as well as relevant interested parties. The ECESB shall review the implementation within the Community of the Energy Star programme and shall provide advice and assistance to the Commission to enable it to carry out its role as management entity. One year following the entry into force of this Regualation, and every year thereafter, the ECESB shall draw up a report on the market penetration of products bearing the common logo and on the technology available for reducing energy consumption. In addition, each Member State shall designate national energy policy experts, authorities or persons responsible for carrying out the tasks provided in this Regulation. The Commission shall establish a working plan within 6 months from the entry into force of this Regulation and propose it to the European Parliament and the Council, following consultation of the ECESB. The working plan shall include a strategy for the development of the Energy Star programme, which shall set out for the subsequent three years: - the objectives for the energy efficiency improvements, bearing in mind the need to pursue a high standard of consumer and environmental protection and the market penetration which the Energy Star programme should seek to achieve at Community level; - a non-exhaustive list of office equipment products which should be considered as priorities for inclusion in the Energy Star programme; - outline proposals for educational and promotional campaigns and other necessary actions; - proposals for coordination and cooperation between the Energy Star programme and other voluntary energy labelling schemes in Member States. The Commission shall produce and submit to the EuropeanParliament and the Council by 15 January 2005 a report monitoring the energy efficiency of the office equipment market in the Community, giving an evaluation of the effectiveness of Energy Star programme and proposing, if necessary, measures complementary to the programme. The report shall examine the result of the dialogue between the EU and the USA and in particular whether Energy Star specifications are effective enough. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 12.12.2001.�