To help EU consumers reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint, from Monday 1 March 2021, a new version of the EU's widely recognized energy label will be in effect in all shops and online retailers.
The new labels will initially apply to four product categories – refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and televisions (and other external display devices). September 1 will be followed by new labels for light bulbs and lamps with fixed light sources, while other products will follow in the coming years.
As more and more products achieve A +, A ++ or A +++ scores based on the current scale, the most important change is the return to a simpler scale, from A to G. This scale is more rigorous and designed so that only a few products can initially get an “A” rating; this leaves room for more efficient products to be included in the future. The most energy efficient products currently on the market will now be labeled “B”, “C” or “D”. The labels will include some new features, including a QR link to a pan-European database, which will allow consumers to find out more product details. From 1 March, a number of “eco-design” rules will also enter into force – in particular as regards the possibility of repair and the obligation of manufacturers to keep spare parts available for a number of years after a product has last been placed on the market.
“The original energy label has been extremely successful, helping households in Europe save, on average, several hundred euros each year, while pushing businesses to invest in research and innovation,” said Energy Commissioner Country Simpson. By the end of February, more than 90% of the products were in the A +, A ++ or A +++ categories. The new system will be clearer for consumers and will guarantee continuous innovation by businesses and the creation of even more efficient products. “It will also help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Apart from the adjustment of the energy efficiency class of the products, the layout of the new label is also different, with clearer and more modern icons. Like the previous labels, the updated labels do not just show the energy efficiency class. For a washing machine, for example, they show at a glance the number of liters of water per wash cycle, the duration of the cycle and the energy consumption, as measured for a standard program.
Another important change is the introduction of a QR code in the upper right part of the new labels. By scanning the QR code, consumers can find additional information about the product model, such as data on dimensions, specific features or test results, depending on the device. All devices placed on the EU market must be registered in a new pan-European database – the European Product Label Register for Energy Labels (EPREL). This will further facilitate the comparison of similar products in the future.
In addition to the new rules on energy labeling, the corresponding new ecodesign regulations will enter into force on 1 March 2021. These regulations mainly address the updated minimum performance requirements and strengthen the right of consumers to repair products, while also supporting the circular economy. Manufacturers or importers will now be required to provide professional repairmen with a range of essential components (engines and engine brushes, pumps, shock absorbers and springs, wash drums, etc.) for at least 7-10 years after being placed on the EU market. of the last piece of a model. And for end users (ie consumers who are not professional repairers but want to do the repairs themselves), manufacturers must have some spare parts for several years after a product is withdrawn from the market. Products such as doors or hinges and sealing partitions, offered for self-repair. The maximum delivery time of all these parts is 15 working days after the order.
