Energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations

The ESC approved the Commission proposal with the following comments: - The ESC considered that the best way to achieve positive results was to aim for complete cooperation with manufacturers and consumers. - Commission policy should focus on surveillance of the CE marking as a key task. - Alerting the consumer to the benefits of buying energy-efficient appliances should be encouraged in addition to laying down minimum standards. - More stringent standards could harm SMEs. - Measures should be taken for other household appliances. - The proposal should not affect the competitiveness of European manufacturers. - The price increases for refrigerators and freezers and the reduction in electricity costs could have a different financial impact on different groups of consumers in some Member States. - Industry and consumers should be involved in the implementation of the first level of efficiency standards described in the proposal. - Consideration could be given to extending the scope of Article 6 in such a way that not only the Member States but also manufacturers could provide information on the failure of products on the market to conform to the CE marking. In addition, the ESC urged the Commission to involve industry and consumers actively in the process of assessing the results and, if necessary, establishing a second set of efficiency standards as referred to in Article 8 of the proposal.