Brussels, 18/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to the trialogue agreement between the European Parliament, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission, which was concluded on Tuesday 17 November, the new Community energy labelling system provides for three additional categories to distinguish the most efficient products, but limits the total number of energy classes to 7, from 8 previously. In future, up to three additional categories can be added to the simple gradual scale from "A" (green eco-friendly products) to "G" (red low-performance products). Three scenarios will now be possible: - if the most efficient products are classified as "A+", the least efficient will be in category "F"; - if the most efficient products are classified as "A++", the least efficient will be in category "E "; - if the most efficient products are classified as "A+++", the least efficient will be in category "D". The associated colour system, from dark green for the most efficient products through to red for the least efficient, will be adjusted accordingly, but the most efficient class will remain dark green and least efficient red.
In its initial proposal, the Commission proposed to add to the current scale new categories exceeding the top "A" category, such as "A-20%", "A-40%" or "A-60%" for the labelling of electronic household goods (EUROPE 9874). However, the Parliament insisted that it stick to the scale from "A" to "G" in order to keep clear and comprehensible energy categories, which the Council rejected, under pressure from the industry. As we explained, the compromise reached therefore limits the number of additional categories to 3 and the total number of performance categories to 7. The MEPs of the committee on energy, led by the rapporteur on the revision of directive 92/75/EC on energy labelling, the Greek Social Democrat Anni Podimata, and representatives of the Swedish Presidency, agreed further to revise the new scale of energy performance categories once a significant number of products have been categorised "A++" or "A+++".
Furthermore, the agreement confirms that in any advertisement highlighting the price or energy consumption of energy-consuming products (refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and ovens), manufacturers must indicate the energy class of the product and its energy consumption, irrespective of whether the product is in the "A" or "G" category, as regards the level of consumption. The Commission's proposal did not make any provision for advertisements for electronic household goods; nonetheless, the Parliament, in its vote at first reading in early May (EUROPE 9896), took the view that advertising helps consumers to make a choice based on the energy savings potential of different products. The trialogue meeting also confirmed that any technical promotional literature, such as manufacturers' manuals and brochures, in paper form or on the internet, must stipulate the consumption or energy efficiency category of the product.
Lastly, energy labelling will no longer be limited to domestic appliances, but will also be applied to energy-consuming products for commercial and industrial purposes, such as cold stores and similar, display cabinets and automatic teller machines, and on consumption products which do not directly consume energy, but which have a significant direct or indirect impact on energy saving, such as windows, window frames and exterior doors. The technical aspects of the directive, such as the energy categories of specific products, will be determined by a working group of the Commission.
The agreement obtained by Ms Podimata is also welcomed by representatives of ALDE. "I am confident that the directive will move forward the standards of energy efficiency within industry. Becoming an eco-efficient economy will only be possible if consumers have the power to make informed choices. That is what we fought for", said Sweden's Lena Ek. "Despite fierce lobbying from the electronic household goods industry, the committee on energy held firm. The agreement we concluded will benefit consumers and help protect the planet", added the UK member Fiona Hall. For her part, speaking on behalf of the Greens, Finland's Satu Hassi said that "the agreement reached sets the bar pretty high for standards of energy efficiency". "The Parliament has managed to limit the number of additional categories to three whilst the industry lobby and a handful of member states wanted to create a fourth category, 'A++++'. However, this leaves us with a system in which far too many new products will get the 'A' and which devalues the difference between the most efficient products", she added. For his part, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed an "essential contribution the achievement of the EU's objectives on saving energy and reducing emissions".
The compromise text has still to be formally approved by the Council before the definitive green light of the Parliament at a plenary session early in 2010. Further to adoption and publication in the Official Journal of the EU, the member states will have 12 months to bring their national legislation into line with the new EU rules. (E.H./transl.fl)