The Environment Committee adopted on Tuesday almost unanimously (56 in favour and 1 abstention) a second reading recommendation by Frederique RIES (ALDE, BE) aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of electrical products. By comparison with the original legislation, MEPs want to place even more emphasis on improving energy efficiency and on better consumer information, while ensuring the burden on smaller companies is not too great.
The aim of the directive is to increase the energy efficiency of products such as hairdryers, shavers, washing machines and laptops. The directive applies to a vast range of products, which are responsible for about 40% of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Almost every imaginable such product is affected except motor vehicles, which are regulated elsewhere. However, since it is a framework directive, the legislation will acquire flesh on its bones only when followed by implementing measures laying down precise eco-design rules. These are to be adopted by the Commission, which in turn is to be assisted by a regulatory committee.
At first reading last April, Parliament was unhappy with the general approach of the directive. The Environment Committee on Tuesday retabled several amendments from first reading. In one amendment it stressed that the main aim of the directive on ecodesign requirements of energy using products is to improve energy efficiency. MEPs passed an important amendment clarifying which products should be affected first: one year after the adoption of the framework directive the Commission should adopt implementing measures for those products that offer a high potential for cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These include heating and water heating equipment, electric motor systems, lighting in both the domestic and tertiary sectors, domestic appliances, office equipment in the domestic and tertiary sectors, consumer electronics and HVAC (heating ventilating air conditioning) systems. For ICT products, off-mode consumption should as a general principle be minimised to the extent technically possible.
The committee also reinstated consumer information requirements for manufacturers and distributors. These must ensure that consumers are provided with information on the environmental impact of the product throughout its life cycle, the ecological profile of the product and the benefits of eco-design as well as the role they themselves can play in reducing energy consumption by sustainable use of the product.
Several amendments were passed to ease the burden on smaller companies. The committee deleted a requirement for the manufacturer to make a life cycle analysis of a product. It also adopted an amendment calling for Member States to provide support to ensure that small firms have the necessary ecodesign and adaptation resources (e.g. product design solutions, re-design solutions, training and expertise in an accessible format.)
15.3.2005 Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
In the chair: Hans BLOKLAND (IND/DEM, NL)
Procedure: Codecision, second reading
Plenary vote: April, Strasbourg