EU Directive on Eco-Design of Energy-using Products (EuP)

Target

• Optimizing the whole product life cycle
• Holistic view through Integrated Product Policy (IPP)
• Consideration of environmental effects in different life cycle phases

Status

• Framework directive
• Adopted in July 2005
• For single product groups specific directives will be adopted ("implementing measures"), based on the EuP
• EuP framework does not create immediate obligations for manufacturers but allows the Commission to do so through implementing measures; they define eco-design requirements, conformity assessment procedures and implementation dates

Specific Directives in Context of EuP

• Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting (2000/55/EC of 18.09.2000)
• Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations thereof (96/57/EC of 03.09.1996)
• Council Directive on efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels (92/42/EEC of 21.05.1992)

Product groups

Prime focus on the following products
• heating and water heating equipment
• electric motor systems
• lighting in both the domestic and tertiary sectors
• domestic appliances
• office equipment
• consumer electronics
• HVAC (heating ventilating air conditioning) systems

Requirements

(depending on implementing measure)

• Voluntary:
• ISO 14.000 (if not required by your customer)
• EMAS (EU Environmental Management Audit Scheme)


• Obligatory:
• documented Environmental Management System (Annex V) or
• Internal Design Control (Annex IV)


• Eco-Profile
• Environmental assessment throughout a products life cycle


• Presumption of conformity
• CE marking
• Application of harmonized standards
• EuP which have been awarded the Eco-label, shall be presumed to comply with the corresponding implementing measure (if the Eco-label meets the requirements)

Eco-Design Relevancy

The implementing measures will determine generic and/or specific product requirements:

• Generic: aiming at the improvement of the overall environmental performance, focusing on environmental aspects identified in the implementing measure
• Specific: in the form of limit values or thresholds for selected environmental aspects with a significant adverse impact on the environment

Benefits

• Reduced risk of fragmentation to the Internal Market and possible barriers to trade
• Reduced environmental impact from EuPs
• Increased security of energy supply
• Integration of environmental aspects into equipment design without compromising competitiveness
• Acceleration of ecological solutions, advantaging EU competitiveness in global trade
• Greater availability/exchange of environmental information in the public domain

EU Link

• Energy using Products Directive (Official webpage of the European Commission)
• EuP Directive, adopted final version (2005/32/EC, text in all official EU languages)
• EuP Directive proposal (COM/2003/0453 final, text in all official EU languages)
• European Parliament legislative resolution, 13.04.2005
  Amendment 69, Article 11 A (new) with relevancy for SME's
• COMMON POSITION (EC) No 9/2005, adopted by the Council on 29 November 2004
• Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005