Brussels, 12/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - Meeting under the banner of the CECED, the European Committee of Manufacturers of Electrical Domestic Equipment, used the 3rd Green Energy Week to give a voice to those protesting against the European Commission's recent energy labelling proposals. They believe that these proposals should prevent a reclassification of existing appliances to lower levels of household good performance categories in energy consumption because it would obstruct progress to a sustainable energy future in Europe. As part of its “energy security” package of November 2008, the Commission is proposing to extend energy consumer products used in industrial and commercial sectors to products linked to energy and which have an impact on energy consumption during user phase (such as insulated windows) the field of the 92/75/EC directive on energy labelling, via labels A-G are put on appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and ovens and inform consumers about energy consumption outlets and product prices, which promotes demand of energy saving appliances and ensures a dynamic development in the market of efficient products. The Commission proposal also calls for a re-classification to a lower level of A-G in appliances already covered by the directive. The CECED says reclassification is counterproductive as it creates negative pressure on perceived value of appliances that have already achieve high levels of energy efficiency on the markets and also compromises the industry's capacity to invest more in innovation. The vice president of the CECED and CEO of the Italian company, Candy Eletttrodomestici, Silvano Fumagalli, warned that such a reclassification could lead to losses of €1.5bn to the industry and put many jobs at risk. Since ht entry into force of the “energy labelling” directive in 1995, European manufacturers in this area have spend €15bn in energy efficiency innovation. Spending has allowed for improving energy efficiency by 20% every four years for nominal products for consumers. Committed to improve energy efficiency of their products, appliances manufacturers are therefore calling on member states and the Commission to find a solution to promote “dynamic and permanent” labelling and not a reclassification to lower levels for appliances that are already on the market. (E.H./trans/rh)