Euroconsumers Italian member Altroconsumo is part of an important new consortium aiming to make sure suppliers, retailers and installers are fully on board with new eco-design labelling requirements. The newly adapted rules will change minimum efficiency requirements and energy labels – including a product’s main energy rating.

With updates to eco-labelling legislation now in place, the hard work now begins to make sure everyone in the supply chain is aware of what is happening, when and why.  

This is where the Compliance Services initiative, funded by EU LIFE comes in. Compliance Services will give crucial and timely support to everyone in the product supply chain to make sure they adhere to the new labelling rules.  

Webinars for tumble dryer industry

Over 30 product categories in the EU market are covered by the eco-label requirements, including washing machines, tumble dryers, IT equipment, consumer electronic devices, heating and air conditioning.  

The initial set of webinars will focus on tumble dryers, with one event targeted at suppliers and one tailored to dealers. The webinars will be co-led by industry groups APPLiA on the supplier side, Eurocommerce on the retailer side and the European Commission. 

They will explain the new regulatory requirements to replace current energy labels, the new content of the label and the product information sheet. 

Tumble dryer dealers will find out about:

• Key requirements for: online sales, physical shops, promotions, technical sales material etc
• Changes in the energy label: What are the changes in the content of the energy label and the product information sheets that are relevant for you and your customers?
• New minimum requirements on product performance: Which new minimum requirements will apply (e.g. energy efficiency, condensation efficiency, circumvention, software updates), what does this mean for the products you sell? 
• Timetable: when will you receive new energy labels and when will you have to change the energy labels for tumble dryers?
• Market surveillance: what does it mean and what is your role in it?

Tumble dryer suppliers will find out about:

• New minimum requirements on product performance: Which new minimum requirements will apply (e.g. energy efficiency, condensation efficiency, circumvention, software updates) and what does this mean for your products?
• New types of requirements: What do you have to consider regarding resource efficiency?
• Communication: What do you have to show on your website?
• Information for dealers: What do you have to deliver to dealers and when?
• Market surveillance: What key aspects are considered when a market surveillance authority is doing checks on your products?

Both webinars will cover how to use the EPREL product database, and the additional support available from the Compliance Services Project. 

Our Euroconsumers members are also developing ways to bring the product’s energy information in the EPREL to life for consumers so it’s accessible and meaningful for decision making.   

Registration for the webinars is now open at: Compliance Service Webinar Invitation.

Getting eco-label information right first time  

The project hopes to address the challenge of eco-labelling non-compliance and therefore save time for consumers and businesses by helping them get the information right first time.

Over 30 product categories in the EU market are covered by the eco-label requirements, including washing machines, tumble dryers, IT equipment, consumer electronic devices, heating and air conditioning.  But in certain market segments, meeting with product information regulations is alarmingly low, with up to 70% of products failing to comply.

Building a full eco-information resource

There’s also great value in bringing together all of the eco-labelling information in one place. And, the more companies that comply with eco-labelling, the better the data that goes into the new EU- wide product database, EPREL (European Product Registry for Energy Labelling). This will eventually grow into a comprehensive information source for consumers, retailers, market surveillance authorities, and other relevant groups.

Bringing eco-friendly products to the EU market needs labelling that consumers can trust. The new Compliance Services which Altroconsumo is part of will make sure that everyone in the supply system understands their responsibilities to get the right information in place and help grow a sustainable, trustworthy product market place.  

Registration for the webinars is now open at: Compliance Service Webinar Invitation.