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// Revised EU energy label proposal challenged

Five EU member states are opposed to European commission proposals for a new energy label for domestic appliances, ENDS has learned. Plans to revise the existing A-G ratings emerged last month as part of discussions on new eco-design requirement for refrigerators.

The UK, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden are saying that the commission's proposal to update the existing label by adding categories A1, A2 and A3 for new, more efficient products would confuse consumers. Recent surveys back this argument.

But several other member states such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and other eastern European countries do support the commission's proposal. On Friday Swedish MEP Satu Hassi urged them not to be "seduced" by industry demands for an "open-ended" scale.

Those opposed to the commission's proposal want to keep the existing A-G label and rescale appliances in line with tougher energy efficiency standards adopted under "implementing measures" for energy-using products. An A-rated appliance would for example be re-scaled as B-rated.

Ms Hassi rejected industry claims that this approach would undermine its capacity to innovate. "As more efficient models come on the market, the scale can only remain clear and meaningful if we keep upgrading the criteria of each grade", she said.

A new energy label and efficiency standards for refrigerators are expected to be adopted by a committee of member state representatives in March.

ENDS Europe
16 Feb 2009