Eco Labelling [EU]

The EU ecolabel is regulated by a 2010 Regulation. The label may be awarded to services and products which have lower environmental impact that comparable products in their group. The  criteria are  based on scientific data referable to the whole of the product’s life, from product development to disposal.

The label may be awarded to goods and services distributed, consumed and used through the EU whether free of charge or in return for payment. It does not apply to medical products or veterinary products or medicinal devices.

The eco-labelling system was originally introduced in 1992.

The label is awarded with reference to

• environmental and ethical objectives.
• the impact of the goods and services on climate change, nature and biodiversity, energy and resource consumption, waste, pollution, emissions and release of hazardous substance.
• substitution of hazardous substance by safer substances.
• durability and reusability.
• ultimate impact on the environment including consumer health and safety.
• compliance with social and ethical standards including labour standards internationally.
• taking account of criteria established by other labels at national and regional level.
• reducing animal testing.

The label may not be awarded to products containing substances classified as toxic, hazardous to the environment, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or subject to the framework on the management of chemicals.

States must designate national bodies responsible for the labelling process. Their operations must be transparent and open to involvement by interested parties. The national authorities are responsible for checking that products comply with the label criteria. They may receive complaints, inform the public, monitor advertising and ultimately take steps by way of sanctions.

In order to be awarded a label businesses must submit an application. If the product complies with label criteria the competent body may enter a contract with the business establishing the terms of use and withdrawal of the label. Subject to this, the label may be attached to the product. The use of label may be subject to an annual fee and an initial application fee.

The Commission has created a catalogue of products which have been awarded the label.

The European Union Ecolabelling Board (EUEB)

The Commission shall establish a committee representing the national competent bodies. The Commission shall consult the EUEB when developing or revising the award criteria and requirements of the label.

Household appliances: energy consumption labelling (until 2011)

The European Union (EU) harmonises national measures relating to the publication of information on the consumption of energy and of other essential resources by household appliances, thereby allowing consumers to choose appliances on the basis of their energy efficiency.

 

Council Directive 92/75/EEC of 22 September 1992 on the indication by

labelling and standard product information of the

consumption of energy and other resources by household appliances

[See amending acts].

The Directive applies to the following types of household appliances, even where these are sold for non-household uses:

• refrigerators, freezers and their combinations;
• washing machines, dryers and their combinations;
• dishwashers;
• ovens;
• water heaters and hot-water storage appliances;
• lighting sources;
• air-conditioning appliances.

Household appliances offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase must be accompanied by a fiche and a label providing information relating to their consumption of energy (electrical or other) or of other essential resources.

The supplier must establish technical documentation sufficient to enable the accuracy of the information contained in the label and the fiche to be assessed. This documentation must include:

• a general description of the product;
• the results of design calculations, where necessary;
• test reports;
• where values are derived from those obtained for similar models, the same information for these models.

The supplier shall make this documentation available for inspection purposes for a period ending five years after the last product has been manufactured.

Suppliers must provide:

• a free label, to be attached to the appliance by the dealer in the appropriate position and in the appropriate language version;
• a product fiche, contained in all the brochures relating to the product or, where these are not provided, in all other literature provided with the appliance.

Suppliers are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in the labels and fiches that they supply and are deemed to have given their consent to the publication of the information.

Where appliances are offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase by catalogue or by other means whereby the potential customer is unable to see the appliance displayed, the essential information contained in the label or fiche must be provided to the potential customer before purchase.

Information on airborne noise, integrated into Directive 2005/32/EC, and other public information relating to the appliance in question and provided pursuant to other Community legislation, must be included on the label or fiche.

Member States must take the necessary measures to:

• ensure that all suppliers and dealers established in their territory fulfil their obligations under this Directive;
• prohibit the display of labels, marks, symbols or inscriptions relating to energy consumption which do not comply with the requirements of this Directive and which are likely to cause confusion, with the exception of Community or national environmental labels;
• launch educational and promotional information campaigns aimed at encouraging more responsible use of energy by private consumers.

Where Member States have grounds for suspecting that the information contained in labels or fiches is incorrect, they may require suppliers to provide evidence.

The Commission is assisted by an advisory committee.

The Directives adopted in implementation of the present Directive must specify:

• the exact definition of the type of appliances to be included;
• the measurement standards and methods to be used in obtaining the information relating to energy consumption;
• details of the technical documentation required;
• the design and content of the label;
• the location where the label shall be fixed to the appliance;
• the content and where appropriate the format of the fiche, on which must be included the information appearing on the label;
• the information details to be provided in the case of mail-order offers for sale.

This Directive cancels Directive 79/530/EEC.