Energy Labelling: Impact Assessment Study on a Possible Extension, Tightening or Simplification of the Framework Directive 92/75 EEC on Energy Labelling of Houshold Appliances
Background:
The Framework Directive 92/75/EEC on Energy Labelling of Household Appliances has been in place for 14 years. It is essentially a marketing scheme aimed at promoting energy efficient products. In addition to the Energy Labelling Directive, the Directive 2005/32 EC on Ecodesign foresees an introduction of specific requirements including minimum energy efficiency requirements for Energy Using Products (EuPs). This raises the question whether any product information requirements for such products can best be achieved through an extension of Directive 92/75/EEC to non household energy using products. A possible recast of the Directive is announced in the Energy Efficiency Action Plan and in the Commission simplification rolling programme.
Objective and approach: The overall policy objective is to further promote energy savings by pulling the market towards more energy efficient products, by raising consumers? awareness throughout the compulsory labelling of products at the point of sales. The overall objective of the study is to identify and evaluate possible ways to achieve the above mentioned policy objective by proposing actions in relation to the Directive 92/75 EEC. The possible actions may be:
- no amendment of Directive 92/75 EEC on Energy Labelling but possible extension to further products or categories of information;
- amend Directive 92/75 EEC on Energy Labelling;
- repeal Directive 92/75 EEC and make use of other Community legislation in other to achieve reduction in energy consumption of products (simplification).
Therefore the following four steps were identified to carry out the study:
- Establishment of a quantified baseline
- Studies of specific product classes (e. g. boilers, electric motors, tyres)
- Stakeholder interviews (e. g. with governments, affected industry, consumer organisations, environmental NGOs, independent experts in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France and the Czech Republic)
- Interaction with other directives, especially the Directive on Ecodesign.
Client: European Commission
Cooperation Partners: Europe Economics (leader), UK; Fraunhofer ISI, Germany
Project runtime: June to September 2007
Contact:
Dr. Annette Roser
IREES GmbH
a.roser@irees.de
Status: 31.07.2007