Energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations

The committee adopted the report by Mr Allan MACARTNEY (ARE, UK). In its amendments, the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy called for "stronger measures" to stabilise CO2 emissions within the EU and for the creation of an efficient enforcement system to ensure fair competition and to protect the rights of consumers. With regard to the energy efficiency standards for appliances, the committee put forward stricter figures than those recommended by the Commission. It also proposed that the timetable be changed so that these standards entered into force two years after the adoption of the directive (the Commission had proposed a deadline of 2000). During this two-year transitional period, appliances complying with the regulations in force at the date of adoption of the directive could be placed on the market. In addition, the committee proposed a second set of stricter standards which would enter into force five years after the adoption of the directive. To ensure the correct implementation of the directive, the Committee on Research called on the national authorities to carry out the necessary inspections of appliances on the market to ensure compliance with the provisions of the directive. If a manufacturer placed on the market a product that did not comply with this directive, it should forthwith make the product comply, or take the product from the market and notify this withdrawal to all persons to whom this type of appliance was sold. �