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 08 January 2008
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EuP - Background

Not all energy-using products will have obligations under the EuP framework, only those meeting criteria with significant environmental impact and volume of trade in the internal market which have clear potential for improvement, for example where market forces fail to make progress in the absence of a legal requirement.

The European Commission has decided that the first step in considering whether and which eco-design requirements should be set for a particular product is a preparatory study.  This is to recommend ways to improve the environmental performance of the product. 

The Commission launched an invitation to tender for 14 preparatory studies corresponding to families of EuPs on 7 July 2005.  The Commission has since launched an additional study on Simple Converter Boxes for digital television, and a further 5 preparatory studies in 2007 relating to the following product groups:

  • solid fuel small combustion installations (in particular for heating)
  • laundry dryers
  • vacuum cleaners
  • complex set top boxes (with conditional access and/or functions that are always on)
  • domestic lighting

Details on the work of each study may be found on the website for the study as listed below:

 

Study

Website

Status*

1

Boilers and combi-boilers (gas/oil/electric)

www.ecoboiler.org/

Reported

2

Water heaters (gas/oil/electric)

www.ecohotwater.org/

Reported

3

Personal Computers (desktops & laptops) and computer monitors

www.ecocomputer.org/ 

Reported

4

Imaging equipment: copiers, faxes, printers, scanners, multifunctional devices

www.ecoimaging.org/

 

5

Consumer electronics: televisions

www.ecotelevision.org/

Reported

6

Standby and off-mode losses of EuPs

www.ecostandby.org/

Reported Working document published*

7

Battery chargers and external power supplies

www.ecocharger.org/

Reported

8

Office lighting

www.eup4light.net

Reported

9

(Public) Street lighting

www.eup4light.net

Reported

Working document published*

10

Residential room conditioning appliances (airco and ventilation)

www.ecoaircon.eu/

 

11

Electric motors 1-150 kW, water pumps (commercial buildings, drinking water, food, agriculture), circulators in buildings, ventilation fans (non-residential)

www.ecomotors.org

 

12

Commercial refrigerators and freezers, including chillers, display cabinets and vending machines

www.ecofreezercom.org

 

13

Domestic refrigerators and freezers

www.ecocold-domestic.org/

 

14

Domestic dishwashers and washing machines.

www.ecowet-domestic.org/

 

15

Simple converter boxes for digital television (Simple STBs)

www.ecostb.com

 

16

Solid fuel small combustion installations (in particular for heating)

http://www.ecosolidfuel.org/

 

17

Laundry dryers

 

 

18

Vacuum cleaners

www.ecovacuum.org

 

19

Complex set top boxes (with conditional access and/or functions that are always on)

 

 

20

Domestic lighting

www.eup4light.net

 

 

*Status:

  • “Reported” – Report has been made; European Commission considering implementation options
  • "Working document published" A working document on possible implementing measures drafted and published on Commission website
  • “Commission proposal” – Link to proposed implementing measure put forward by European Commission.

The studies should provide the Commission with the necessary information to prepare for the next phases (carried out by the Commission) - the impact assessment, the consultation with the Eco-design Forum and a possible draft implementing measure.  Depending on the type of implementing measure proposed, new legislation may be required in the UK. 

 

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