ComplianceServices

Services supporting suppliers and retailers regarding compliance with ecodesign and labelling legislation

For 15 years, the EU energy labelling and ecodesign legislation have provided energy efficiency standards and guidance for buyers for currently more than 30 energy-related product groups like e.g. white goods, IT, consumer electronics, heating, air-conditioning and various products of the professional sector.

Ecodesign and energy labelling legislation is bringing estimated energy savings of approximately 230 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) by 2030. For consumers, this means an average saving of up to € 285 per year on their household energy bills. Moreover, energy efficiency measures will create € 66 billion in extra revenue for European companies. It is thus an essential element for reaching the EU goals of energy efficiency, economic development, climate and customer protection.

Permanent introduction of new or updated legal requirements requires full attention of the key market actors, mainly manufacturers, importers, distributors, installers and retailers: The scope of products covered by ecodesign and energy labelling is still growing and additionally the product-specific regulations have to be updated regularly in order to reflect market and technology developments.

For some market segments, previous market surveillance work has shown high non-compliance levels regarding missing, wrong, contradictory or insufficient product information. This may cause a reduction of the expected energy savings and market distortion.

Therefore, in order to support the legislation targets respectively the compliance of the market with the legislation, supportive measures additionally to market surveillance are needed. The #ComplianceServices project is implementing such measures for all key market actors to raise awareness and to facilitate correct interpretation and application in practice as well as an effective use of the EPREL database. The project is focused on product groups with recently updated, currently reviewed or even completely new regulations: In the period of 2024 – 2026, the product categories covered by updated or new energy labelling and ecodesign legislation include among others heating systems, air-conditioners, PV-modules and inverters and tumble driers.

The #ComplianceServices project has started in September 2023 as a LIFE programme project. It was designed to prepare a comprehensive set of guidance and training tools for suppliers, retailers and installers to support effective implementation of the ecodesign and labelling legislation and high compliance levels, including among others:

• Detailed product specific guidelines,
• FAQs,
• Targeted webinars for suppliers, retailers, installers, etc.
• E-learning course with product specific information,
• Various new and individual communication and discussion formats,
• A helpdesk-service in order to support the clarification of issues raised by stakeholders in collaboration with the EC,
• Effective dissemination of the tools and services to all relevant stakeholders in the EU market, in collaboration with the responsible supplier and retailer associations.

The project consortium, consisting of 13 partners based in 7 EU countries, includes international and national supplier and retailer associations, national energy agencies, consumer associations and environmental organisations.

Client:in / Funding organisation:in	CINEA
Project management	DI Dr Franz Zach
Project team	Dr Bernd Schäppi DI (FH) Franziska Zimmer
Project partners	DEA - ENERGISTYRELSENADENE - AGENCIA PARA A ENERGIA PT ADEME - AGENCE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT ET DE LAMAITRISE DE L'ENERGIE FR SEVEN - THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY CENTER Z.U. CZ ECOS - ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION ON STANDARDS BE EHPA - EUROPEAN HEAT PUMP ASSOCIATION BE EHI - ASSOCIATION OF THE EUROPEAN HEATING INDUSTRY BE ESTIF - SOLAR HEAT EUROPE/EUROPEAN SOLAR THERMAL INDUSTRY FEDERATION BE EPIA - SOLARPOWER EUROPE BE VB - VORES BUREAU APS DK AE - ALTROCONSUMO EDIZIONI SRL IT APED - ASSOCIACAO PORTUGUESA DE EMPRESAS DE DISTRIBUICAO PT DK
Project duration	September 2023 to February 2027