On Monday 26 June, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted without debate the regulation establishing a simplified framework for energy labelling, paving the way for new labels to be phased in from the end of 2019, providing information about the performance of household devices (washing machines, televisions, refrigerators, etc.). This text, which aims to replace the 2010 directive, retains its main principles, but clarifies it by tightening up and extending its scope of application.
Following the inter-institutional agreement concluded in March on the draft revised regulation proposed by the Commission in summer 2015 and revising the framework established by the 2010 directive for the labelling of low-energy products, itself introduced in 1995, the European Parliament gave its green light on 13 June to returning to a simplified energy labelling system running from 'A' to 'G', replacing the current classification system based on differing scales (A+, A++, A+++, etc.), which could be confusing to consumers. This new system will make the new energy labelling stricter, more homogenous and more able to follow the pace of technological progress (see EUROPE 11807).
The new text also contains clearer rules on promotional campaigns, national incentives to promote higher efficiency categories and aims to improve the application mechanisms and transparency towards customers by creating a database of products covered by energy labelling requirements. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)