Brussels, 06/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - In approving the report by Dario Tamburrano (EFDD, Italy) in plenary session on Wednesday 6 July, the European Parliament signed off its amendments to the draft regulation setting a revised framework for the energy efficiency labelling system introduced in 1995 for the information of consumers.
Upholding the vote by the energy committee in June (EUROPE 11572), the Parliament backs the reintroduction, in the course of the next five years, of the system labelling energy efficiency from A to G to replace the current A+, A++, A+++ etc. system. The new system should, however, be tougher and more homogenous, and able to keep pace with technological advances. Most appliances on the market now meet the “class A” requirements first set in 2010, so adding ever more pluses is to be avoided.
The Parliament voted by 580 to 52, with 79 abstentions in favour of updating the energy labelling system, ahead of negotiations with the Council in the next few weeks. The member states agreed their position in November 2015 (EUROPE 11439).
“Today's vote gave new life to the energy efficiency label, making the labelling system stronger, safer, clearer and future-oriented. Innovations, such as the database, the quick response code and above all the reference to smart appliances set the framework for a new 'energy label 2.0'”, said Tamburrano after the vote, expressing confidence that the negotiations with the Council would further enhance the potential of the labelling system to serve at the best the interests of European citizens and become one of the most powerful tools to achieve our EU energy efficiency goals.
Rescaled labels for existing product groups should be introduced within a timescale of between 21 months and 6 years (depending on product type) following entry into force of the new regulation, so as to ensure a homogenous A-G scale, says the text amended by Parliament.
Any future rescale should, Parliament says, aim for a validity period of at least 10 years, and be triggered when 25% of products sold on the EU market fall into the top energy efficiency class A, or when 50% of these products fall into the top two energy efficiency classes, A and B.
When introducing new rescaling or labelling, class A, (and in product groups showing rapid technological progress, classes A and B) should be empty at first, say MEPs.
When energy classes F and G are not allowed for certain product groups, they should be shown on the label in grey, with the standard dark green to red spectrum of the label being retained for products in the higher classes.
To ensure clear, legible labelling, the label should contain information about the energy efficiency class of the product model and its absolute consumption in kWh, displayed per year or per “any relevant period of time”, says the amended text.
For the Parliament, the testing methods and environment, both for suppliers and market surveillance authorities, should be as close as possible to the real-life usage of a given product by the average consumer.
Lastly, the Parliament advocates setting up a product database consisting of a consumer website, with information on each product and a compliance interface, i.e. an electronic platform supporting the work of national market surveillance authorities, available in all the languages of the countries where the product is marketed.
MEPs also introduced exemptions to the new energy efficiency rules for second-hand products and means of transport whose motor stays in the same location during operation, such as elevators, escalators and conveyor belts. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)