Parliament adopts 2nd reading report on energy labelling

The European Parliament adopted its opinion in second reading on the proposal for a Directive on energy labelling on 19 May 2010. As no motion to reject the Council’s Common Position, nor any amendment were tabled, the second reading opinion was approved without a vote. The adoption closes the procedure and the Directive will now be published in the EU’s Official Journal, and enter into force.

Initially this Directive was meant to apply only to household appliances. Its scope, however, is now broadened to include other energy related products among which some construction products.

The scope will in fact be aligned with that of the Eco-design Directive approved on 21 October 2009 (2009/125/EC).

Incentives are to be given to the use of energy labelled products in public procurement and criteria for Green Public Procurement (GPP) will be defined.

At the moment, there are 10 product groups that have been identified:

• Boilers
• Combined Heat & Power
• Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
• Thermal Insulation
• Hard Floor Coverings
• Windows
• Wall Panels
• Street Lighting & Traffic Signals
• Road Surfacing Materials & Road Signs
• Mobile Phones

The European Commission is expected to produce GPP criteria in respect of each of the above product groups by the end of June 2010. CEMBUREAU will thus continue to monitor and take necessary actions in this field.