Following energy labelling and ecodesign requirements is mandatory for all manufacturers and importers of lighting products in the EU. Learn more about current regulations and ensure compliance in the Irish market.

Increasing efficient lighting products could allow Europe to prevent around 7 million tonnes of CO2 from being emitted every year.

The European Union (EU) requirements for energy labelling and ecodesign pave the way for more energy efficient products to enter the market. These requirements have been established based on regulation (EU) 2017/1369 and product specific regulations.

Your obligations for energy labelling

Under EU energy labelling rules, manufacturers, importers and/or retailers are legally required to provide consumers with information about the energy efficiency of lighting products. This information includes:

  • providing dealers and consumers with an energy label and product information sheet (also sometimes called product fiche) for each product within scope of the requirements
  • ensuring the accuracy of the labels and product information sheets
  • entering the relevant information in the public and compliance parts of the product database (EPREL) before placing a unit of a new model on the market
  • keeping information concerning a model even after it is removed from the market
  • displaying energy related information (label and product information sheet when products are sold directly to consumers or advertised (websites, brochures, etc.)

Product list

Lighting products fall under both ecodesign and energy labelling regulations including:

  • light bulbs (halogen, compact fluorescent, etc.)
  • LED modules/lamps.
  • control gears (e.g. ballasts, electronic components, drivers)
  • devices needed to connect light sources to the electrical mains.

Recent updates

The European Commission is gradually replacing the old label format (with a blue boarder) with the new rescaled energy label (ranging from A to G only) for all products categories.

Consumers have been able to search the database for energy labels and product information sheets as of March 2021 for the first rescaled product categories.

The old label which may have been previously placed on the market was still allowed be sold until March 2023. After this date, all products must carry the new label. The label can be displayed in both colour or black and white. The label provides information on products including:

The role of ecodesign

The main aim of ecodesign legislation is to improve the energy efficiency of products on the market by setting higher efficiency standards. Directive 2009/125/EC and product specific regulations set EU regulations for ecodesign. Generally, these regulations cover the following:

  • energy efficiency requirements
  • functional requirements
  • resource efficiency (spare parts, repair) and information requirements (user manual, website and other literature provided with the product)
  • anti-circumvention requirements for testing
  • off mode and/or standby mode requirements where applicable

The EU legislation on ecodesign is an effective tool for improving the environmental performance of products by setting mandatory minimum standards for their energy efficiency. This eliminates the least performing products from the market, significantly contributing to the EU’s energy and climate targets.

Your obligations for ecodesign

Rules on ecodesign for lighting products are mandatory for all manufacturers and importers wishing to sell their products in the EU.

From 1 September 2021, the Regulation on energy labelling for light sources (EU) 2019/2015 applies.

 

Useful Links

 

Have questions?

If you have any questions about energy labelling and ecodesign in Ireland, our team is here to help. Contact a member of the MSA to learn more about EU requirements.

Contact us

Call: 01 8082100

Email: info@seai.ie