EC/United States agreement: energy efficient labelling programmes for office equipment, Energy Star

PURPOSE: EU-US agreement on the coordination of energy-efficient labelling programmes for office equipment. CONTENT: A comprehensive study on energy efficiency in office equipment has indicated that a voluntary labelling programme for office equipment is the most cost-effective action to achieve potential energy savings. The study also proved that there is added value in an international coordination of labelling programmes to achieve the potential, as well as to ensure fair comparability between products of the same type. The Council authorised the Commission to negotiate an agreement with Japan and the US. (Japan has officially withdrawn from the negotiation.) Under the Agreement, the US and EC, in their desire to maximise energy savings and environmental benefits by stimulating the supply of and demand for energy-efficient products, would agree a common set of energy-efficiency specifications and a common logo to be used by the Parties for the purpose of establishing consistent targets for manufacturers, thereby maximising the effect of their individual efforts on the supply of and demand for such product types. The Parties would use the International ENERGY STAR logo for the purpose of identifying qualified energy-efficient product types. Each Party would designate a management entity responsible for implementation of the Agreement. The EC could designate the Commission and the US the EPA (Environment Protection Agency). The proposal lays down provisions regarding : - participation in the ENERGY STAR Labelling Programme; - Programme Coordination between the Parties; - Registration of the ENERGY STAR marks; - Enforcement and Non-Compliance; - Procedures for Amending the Agreement and its Annexes A & B (ENERGY STAR International Logo and Guidelines for Proper Use of the ENERGY STAR Name and International Logo), and for Adding New Annexes; - Procedures for Amending Annex C (Personal Computer and Monitor Specifications); - Entry into Force and Duration; and - Termination.�