Commercial Information Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2/11

6 November 2009

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 560/2009

European Union (EU) * : Directive on Eco-design Requirements for Energy-related Products

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU has adopted a Directive establishing a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-related products. It replaced Directive 2005/32/EC concerning the eco-design requirements for energy-using products (the EuP Directive). Details are set out in Directive 2009/125/EC (the Directive), which can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:285:0010:0035:EN:PDF

DETAILS

2. Energy-related products account for a large proportion of consumption of natural resources and energy. They also have a number of other important environmental impacts. Many energy-related products have a significant potential for improvement to reduce environmental impacts and to achieve energy savings through better design. In this regard, the Directive was adopted to extend the coverage of EuP Directive to cover energy-related products as well. Under the Directive, "energy-related product" is defined as any good that has impact on energy consumption during use. However, means of transport for persons or goods are not covered.

3. Same as the EuP Directive, the Directive has stipulated certain general requirements for energy-related products to be placed on the market and/or put into service. Examples of the general requirements include CE marking, EC declaration of conformity, technical documentation, conformity assessment, provision of consumer information, etc. The European Commission (the Commission) will separately adopt implementing measures laying down the eco-design requirements for individual products. The implementing measures adopted will govern areas on specific eco-design requirements, measurement standards/methods, conformity assessment, information requirements, etc. The Commission will determine a work plan by 21 October 2011 which sets out an indicative list of products groups considered as priorities for the adoption of implementing measures.

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5556.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Peggy LEUNG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.