Eco-design Directive revision

This month the European Parliament’s environment committee backed European commission proposals to extend EU eco-design rules for energy-using products (EuP) to energy-related goods (ErP). Amendments proposed to exclude construction products were rejected. The Commission proposal means that the scope of the Energy Labelling Directive (92/75/EEC) to Energy-Using Products would be significantly extended. Exactly what is included in a label will be defined on a product-by-product basis and will be through the Comitology procedure.

CEMBUREAU considers that the Directive should not apply to buildings and construction products, as they are already subject to complex legislation through which the environmental performance and all eco-design aspects are already or will soon be covered (such as the Construction Products Regulation and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive).

MEPs and the council of ministers hope to reach a first-reading agreement on the plans during the second half of this year. A plenary vote is scheduled for April.