Introduction

Summary

According to Article 21 of the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC , the Commission is required to assess the effectiveness of the Directive in the following terms :

Not later than 2012, the Commission shall review the effectiveness of this Directive and of its implementing measures, including, inter alia:

  1. the methodology for the identification and coverage of significant environmental parameters, such as resource efficiency, considering the whole life cycle of products;
  2. the threshold for implementing measures;
  3. market surveillance mechanisms; and
  4. any relevant self-regulation stimulated.

Following this review, and considering, in particular, the experience related to the extended scope of this Directive, the Commission shall assess, notably, the appropriateness of extending the scope of the Directive to non-energy-related products, in order to significantly reduce environmental impacts throughout such products’ whole life cycle, after consultation of the Consultation Forum referred to in Article 18, and shall, as appropriate, present proposals to the European Parliament and the Council for amending this Directive.

Background

Energy-related products account for a large proportion of the consumption of natural resources and energy in the Community. They also have a number of other important environmental impacts on air, water and soil. Many energy-related products have a significant potential for being improved in order to reduce environmental impacts and to achieve energy savings throughout the life cycle through better design. This also also leads to economic savings for businesses and end-users and enhance products' competitiveness on domestic and global markets.

In order to improve the efficient use of resources and reduce the environmental impacts of energy-related products the European Parliament and the Council have adopted Directive 2009/125/EC (recast of Directive 2005/32/EC) establishing a framework for the of setting Ecodesign requirements (e.g. energy efficiency) for energy-related products in the residential, tertiary, and industrial sectors.

The four main objectives of the Ecodesign Directive are to:

  • ensure the free movement of energy-related products within the EU;
  • improve the overall environmental performance of these products and protect the environment,
  • contribute to the security of energy supply
  • enhance the competitiveness of the EU economy
  • preserve the interests of industry, consumers, and other stakeholders

The Ecodesign Directive is a framework directive. As such, it only lays down general conditions. Binding ecodesign requirements are only set by the introduction of implementing measures specific to each product group that take the form of individual Commission Regulations. According to Article 15 of the Directive these may be adopted for a particular product provided that it has a significant impact on the environment coupled with a high volume of sales and trade on the internal market and with clear potential for improvement without entailing excessive costs. The implementing measures may set specific (SERs) and/or generic requirements (GERs).  Energy-related products that comply with them should bear the "CE" marking and associated information, in order to enable them to be placed on the internal market and move freely.

In considering whether to prepare a draft implementing measure the Commission is first required to examine the presence of relevant self- regulation, such as voluntary agreements or other measures adopted by industry, taking into account that in some cases self-regulation is likely to deliver the policy objectives faster and in a less costly manner than mandatory requirements and allow flexible and appropriate adaptation to technological solutions and market sensitivities.

The procedure for develoment of an implementing measure requires the consultation and active cooperation of all interested parties and the following stages:

  • A preparatory study for the products identified in the working plan to identify which ecodesign requirements should be set for a particular product to improve the environmental performance of the product.
  • A discussion in a Consultation Forum including experts, stakeholders and Member States representatives to allow stakeholders to be informed and provide their positions on the possible measures.
  • An impact assessment to assess the expected environmental, economic and social impacts of alternative policy options leading to the definition of the appropriate implementing measures.
  • Review of the draft regulation by a Regulatory Committee composed of representatives from each Member States and adoption on the basis of weighted majority.
  • Scrutiny by the European Parliament and notification by the World Trade organisation.
  • Adoption of an implementing measure in the formof a Commission Regulation.

To this point, 11 implementing measures concerning Energy using products have already been an adopted while some 30 more are in the pipeline. 

 For more information on the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC and related activities, please visit the Links page.