Energy-Using Products (EuP)
The EuP Directive 2005/32/EC establishes a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-using products. It 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 transposed into UK law under Statutory Instrument (SI 2007 No:2037) and came into force on 11 August 2007.
Implementing measures under the Directive are being made and can take the form of 'daughter' Directives, Regulations or Commission Decisions. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) lead on measures resulting from the initial studies which focus on energy efficiency gains.
Detailed information can be found on our background page.
Latest information
June 2009: Defra consultations launched
See consultations section below.
April 2009: Publication of Commission Regulation 278/2009 for External Power Supplies
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:093:0003:0010:EN:PDF
April 2009: Proposals for amendment of the Directive
The European Parliament has adopted a proposal for the directive to be extended to all energy-related products including products which do not consume energy during use but have an indirect impact on energy consumption, such as water-using devices and windows. The key principles of the Directive however remain unchanged. There is further information in the Commission’s Press Release of 24 April 2009 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/638
March 2009: Publication of two Commission Regulations on lighting:
Tertiary sector (office and street) lighting: Commission Regulation 245/2009
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:076:0017:0044:EN:PDF
Non-directional domestic lighting: Commission Regulation 244/2009
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:076:0003:0016:EN:PDF
February 2009: Publication of Commission Regulation 107/2009 for simple set top boxes.
December 2008: Publication of Commission Regulation 1275/2008 for Standby and off-mode power consumption
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:339:0045:0052:EN:PDF
October 2008: Publication of the Commission Working Plan 2009-2011
Establishment of the European Commission working plan 2009-2011 under the Ecodesign Directive
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Guidance
Defra has issued guidance notes on the draft statutory instrument which will transposes the Directive in the UK.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/pdf/energy-products-regs-guide.pdf
Defra will be developing, and where necessary consulting, on more detailed guidance on agreed product Regulations during 2009.
The Commission has issued some Q&A guidance on the household lighting Regulation:
UK Consultations
11 JUNE 2009: Defra have opened a consultation on the following topics:
- Implementing the Market Surveillance and Enforcement Requirements of the Ecodesign of Energy Using Products and Energy Labelling Directives
- Increasing the enforcement options
- Draft Government Guidance Notes for EuP Implementing Measures
You can download the consultation documents and Impact Assessment from Defra at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/eup-labelling/index.htm
The consultation closes on 4 September 2009.
UK Stakeholder meetings
UK stakeholder meetings to discuss the latest developments in the implementation of the Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy Using Products (EuP) are taking place quarterly. These events are jointly organised by Defra and BIS to help keep interested parties informed and to hear in person their views on the implementation.
Please contact us if you would like to be added to the mailing list for details of this and other meetings on sustainability@bis.gsi.gov.uk.
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 working documents, 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).
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. Following a study and consultations, the Commission published the Working Plan for 2009-2011 in October 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
BIS Contact:
Peter Askew
Eco-design and Product Regulation Unit
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Bay 384, 1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Tel. + 44 (0)20 7215 3794
E-mail: peter.askew@bis.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.