The legislation in question sets out the energy efficiency requirements for energy-using products in the European Union. The Directive (full-title, Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast) (Text with EEA relevance)) outlines product information, such as energy consumption and performance, and strives to reduce the environmental impact of energy-using products throughout their life-cycle. The legislation also requires manufacturers to provide product information to the market and sets out procedures for market surveillance.
In addition to these requirements, the legislation provides penalties for non-compliance by Member States while applying provisions adopted pursuant to the Directive. These penalties are defined to be effective, proportionate, and dissuasive, keeping in mind the scale of non-compliance and the number of non-complying products in the market.
The legislation is set to be reviewed by the Commission not later than 2012 with respect to its effectiveness and its implementation. The review focuses on environmental parameters such as resource efficiency, the threshold for implementing measures, market surveillance mechanisms, and relevant self-regulation stimulated. The Directive also provides for the required confidentiality of commercially sensitive information related to the supply of information by the manufacturer and/or its authorized representative.
The Directive requires Member States to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Articles 1 to 9, 11, 14, 15 and 20 and Annexes I to V, VII, and VIII by 20th November 2010 and provide the text of those provisions to the Commission. The Directive repeals Directive 2005/32/EC, as amended by the Directive listed in Annex IX, Part A, and references to the repealed Directive should be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex X.
Overall, the legislation addresses a range of themes and issues related to energy efficiency and environmental protection while emphasizing confidentiality and adequate penalties for non-compliance. It aims to reduce the environmental impact of energy-using products throughout their lifecycle and provides clear guidelines for manufacturers on product information. The Directive is relevant to any professionals and enthusiasts working in the field of Heritage who are concerned with environmental protection.
