The European Commission is considering extending the Ecodesign Directive to non-energy-related products - 23 April 2012.
One of the proposals in the report assessing the Ecodesign Directive considers the desirability and possibility of extending the directive to non-energy-related products (non-ErP) and means of transport. This report, published on 20 February by the European Commission, is based on input from Ihobe, the Environmental Management Corporation, and from the other stakeholders involved.
The European Commission decided to assess the
Ecodesign Directive, after its coming into force in 2009, in terms of its
relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, and the value added that it provides
to the products coming under the directive. The evaluation process sought
input from the stakeholders involved (representatives of the Member States,
representatives of the world of industry and consumers, associations...), who
attended three meetings which were opportunities to analyse the value and
effectiveness of the Directive since it came into force and for the stakeholders
to contribute suggestions and new approaches. Ihobe was invited by the European
Commission to attend these meetings, where it was one the speakers and put
forward a series of recommendations based on its experience in bringing the Ecodesign
Directive to Basque SMEs.
During the last meeting, held in Brussels on 18
January, the proposal was put forward to organise an effective monitoring of
the market to ensure a correct application of the Ecodesign Directive, as no
standard adaptation and inspection procedures had been noted in the different
Member States.
The report also noted a possible risk in the SMEs,
as they have less capacity to meet the regulations set by the European
Ecodesign Directive.
Ecodesign
Directive
The European Ecodesign Directive was introduced in
order to harmonise the ecological design requirements for all energy-related
products across the Community. It establishes a framework of ecodesign
requirements, applicable to those products (Energy-related Products, ErP) as
they account for a large percentage of the natural resources and energy
consumed in the European Union and have other significant impacts on the
environment. Should they fail to meet these requirements, the products cannot
obtain the CE mark and, therefore, cannot be sold within the European
Community.
Source: www.ihobe.net
23 April, 2012.