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Energy-Using Products (EuP)

The EuP Directive 2005/32/EC establishing a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-using products aims to improve the environmental performance of products throughout the life-cycle, by systematic integration of environmental aspects at a very early stage in the product design. 

The Directive was finalised and published on 6 July 2005 with ‘implementing measures’ to follow after Commission led studies have been completed – the majority are expected to report during 2007.  Resulting implementing measures could take the form of ‘daughter’ Directives, regulations or Commission Decisions.  The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will lead on bringing any necessary implementing measures into UK law for measures resulting from the initial studies which are expected to focus on energy efficiency gains.

Detailed information on the studies can be found on our background page.

Latest information

• July 2008: Text agreed on 7 July by the EC Regulatory Committee for a Regulation on standby and off-mode of household and office equipment can now be viewed at:

       http://www.mtprog.com/ReferenceLibrary/Draft%20EuP%20standby%20post%20vote.pdf

• January 2008: Commission publication of indicative planning document on adoption process: Download pdf from Commission website:

        http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/planning.pdf

• 2007-8: Expected reporting of the Commission’s Studies – see our background page and the Commission website for latest information on which studies have reported.
• August 2007: Statutory Instrument (SI 2007 No. 2037) implementing the EuP Directive 2005/32/EC came into force on 11 August 2007.
• May 2007: Defra has issued guidance notes on the draft statutory instrument which will transpose the Directive in the UK (expected to come into force 11 August 2007). These guidance notes, have been updated when this statutory instrument has came into force,

        http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consumerprod/pdf/energy-products-regs-guide.pdf

• January 2007: The Commission published a call for tender further 5 preparatory studies (see background page for details).
  
• 2006: First 14 studies launched (see background page for details).
  
• 2005: Publication of EuP Directive 2005/32/EC establishing a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-using products aims to improve the environmental performance of products throughout the life-cycle

UK Consultations

Following the completion of Defra’s consultation exercise on the transposition of the framework Directive into UK legislation, there are currently no UK consultations for further implementing measures. Details of new consultations will appear here.

UK Stakeholder meetings

Last meeting:

The last UK stakeholder meeting to discuss the latest developments in the implementation of the Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy Using Products (EuP) took place in June 2008.   This was the seventh such event jointly organised by Defra and BERR (previously DTI) to help keep interested parties informed and to hear in person their views on the implementation.

Next meeting:

The next stakeholder meeting will be held in the autumn. Please contact us if you would like to be added to the mailing list for details of this and other meetings on sustainability@berr.gsi.gov.uk

Defra and BERR intend to hold an increased number of meetings in 2008 in conjunction with the government's Market Transformation Programme (MTP), as more of the preparatory studies issue final reports and the Commission holds Consultation Forums. In particular we also expect the European Commission to issue their proposed implementing measures for some of the completed studies.

Article 18 EU Eco-design Consultation Forum

Article 18 of the Directive provides for the establishment of a group of experts called “Consultation Forum” which will allow stakeholders to be informed and provide their contribution on the implementation of the Directive at the European level.  The tasks of the group of experts is to contribute in particular to the definition and review of the implementing measures, to monitoring the efficiency of the established market surveillance mechanisms and to the assessment of voluntary agreements and other self-regulatory measures taken in the context of the Directive.  The Forum is also consulted by the Commission during the periodic modification of the Working Plan.

The group of experts is composed of a maximum of 60 members, including one representative from each Member State (in the case of the UK, an official from Defra).  The Commission invited nominations for those wishing to make up the additional members in 2006 from which 30 stakeholders were selected (published on Commission website).

The Consultation Forum is meeting regularly in Brussels during 2008 to discuss working documents developed and published by the Commission that have been guided by the preparatory study.

Article 16(1) working plan

Article 16 (1) of the Directive calls the Commission to establish a working plan, setting out for the following three years, an indicative list of product groups which will be considered as priorities for the adoption of implementing measures.  A provisional list of additional items was discussed in May 2008.

Further information

Defra  (contact details below) leads on the transposition of the Directive into UK legislation and on product-related implementing measures, working closely with BERR and industry stakeholders.

Defra Contact:
Martyn Webb
Environment, Business and Consumers Division
Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Ergon House, Horseferry Road 
London SW1P 2AL
Tel. +44 (0)20 7238 4628
E-mail: martyn.webb@defra.gsi.gov.uk

BERR Contact:
Peter Askew
Eco-design and Product Regulation Unit
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)
Bay 384, 1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Tel. + 44 (0)20 7215 3794
E-mail: peter.askew@berr.gsi.gov.uk

Other sources of information:

European Commission  (DG Energy and Transport) – EuP website with latest information, details of studies and progress reports.

European Commission(DG Enterprise) - EuP website.

Market Transformation Programme (MTP) – supporting the development and implementation of UK Government policy on sustainable products, including EuP