Energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations

In adopting the report by Mr Allan MACARTNEY (ARE, UK) on the proposal concerning the energy efficiency of domestic appliances, the European Parliament approved the proposal with the following amendments: - it 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, Parliament put forward stricter figures than those recommended by the Commission (Annex I). - it did away with a derogation granted to appliances displayed at fairs or other exhibitions which need not necessarily comply with the standards; - it proposed that the timetable be changed so that: . these standards (as strengthened by the EP) entered into force two years after the adoption of the directive (and not in 2000, as the Commission had proposed); . during the two-year transitional period, appliances complying with the regulations in force in the Member States at the date of adoption of the directive could continue to be placed on the market; . five years after the adoption of the directive stricter standards defined in a new Annex 1a would enter into force (annex stipulating stricter figures for maximum allowable energy consumption according to the type of refrigerator/freezer); . three years after the adoption of the directive the Commission would assess the possibility of implementing stricter norms than those defined in the new Annex 1a and would inform Parliament of its conclusions. Each new set of norms would be assessed and established on the basis of optimal technical and economic conditions and on the necessary efforts to reduce energy consumption in the Union; - to ensure the correct implementation of the directive, Parliament strengthened the provisions on monitoring and called on the national authorities to carry out the necessary inspections of appliances on the market (at the time of the "CE" conformity marking) to ensure compliance with the provisions of the directive. Where a product did not comply with this directive, the data provided by the manufacturer would be verified. The manufacturer 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. �