The Council of Ministers agreed today to extend the Directive on the indication by labelling, restricted to household appliances, to all energy-related products.
The Council adopted this position at first reading on the Directive on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products. The main aim of this recast directive is to extend the scope of the current Directive 92/75/EEC, restricted to household appliances, to allow for the labelling of all energy related products including the household, commercial and industrial sectors and some nonenergy using products.
The basis of labelling will continue to be the scale AG, from dark green (the most energy-efficient) to red, which is well understood by consumers, but allowing for three additional classes, with the total number being limited to seven. Advertising should also indicate, as appropriate, the energy class, where energy-related or price information is disclosed.
The proposal forms part of the so-called “energy efficiency package”, presented by the Commission in November 2008 with the aim of contributing to the EU’s target of reducing 20% of the energy consumption and having a 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The European Parliament adopted its opinion in first reading in May 2009, approving 60 amendments (8876/1/09). The Council has been working intensively with the Parliament since then in order to reach an early agreement on this proposal as called for by the European Council.
The substance of the directive was agreed between the European Parliament and Council in November 2009 but the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty per 1 January 2010 required modifications concerning in particular the adaptation of the legal basis and the comitology provisions. Following consultations with the EP, this second step was concluded in March 2010, relying as far as possible on horizontal solutions.
The European Parliament is expected to confirm the agreement when it adopts its position at second reading in its forthcoming plenary session in April.
