Eco-design (Directive 2009/125/EC establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast))
Category: Legislative
Document Type: Eu Regulation
Role: Main
EU Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC Repealed and Replaced by Sustainable Products Regulation 2024/1781, Effective July 18, 2024, with Transitional Rules
Directive 2009/125/EC established a framework for setting eco-design requirements for energy-using products in the EU. It aimed to improve the environmental performance of products throughout their life cycle, primarily by setting mandatory minimum requirements for energy efficiency and other environmental aspects through implementing measures and voluntary agreements. The scope was later extended to encompass all energy-related products. Member States were required to adopt national legislation, establish market surveillance authorities, and implement penalties for infringements. They were also prohibited from impeding the market placement or service of products compliant with the directive's eco-design requirements. A new set of ecodesign rules under this directive entered into force on January 1st, 2020. On July 18th, 2024, Directive 2009/125/EC was repealed by Article 79 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024, which establishes a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products. This new Regulation aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and make products more sustainable over their whole life cycle, aligning with the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan. Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 includes specific exemptions to the repeal of Directive 2009/125/EC. Certain articles and annexes of the old Directive (specifically Articles 1, 2, 8(2), 11, 14, 15, 18, 19 and Annexes I, II, IV, V, VII) continue to apply until December 31, 2026, for specific product categories including photovoltaic panels, various heaters, air conditioners, boilers, ventilation units, vacuum cleaners, cooking appliances, pumps, fans, external power supplies, computers, servers, data storage, power transformers, professional refrigeration, and imaging equipment. Furthermore, certain articles and annexes (Articles 1(3), 2, 3(1), 4, 5, 8, 9(3), 10, 14, 20 and Annexes IV, V, VI) of the old Directive continue to apply until December 31, 2030 (for technical amendments to implementing measures) or until the relevant implementing measures are repealed or declared obsolete, for products regulated by implementing measures adopted under Article 15 of Directive 2009/125/EC. Certain articles of the new Regulation (Articles 3, 40, and 66 to 71) apply to products regulated by implementing measures adopted under the old Directive. References to the repealed Directive 2009/125/EC are to be construed as references to Regulation (EU) 2024/1781. Manufacturers must retain electronic documentation relating to conformity assessment and declarations of conformity for 10 years from the date of manufacture for products placed on the market or put into service under Directive 2009/125/EC before the application date of a delegated act under the new Regulation covering those products.
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Full text:
Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2024/1781 28.6.2024 REGULATION (EU) 2024/1781 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 June 2024 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, amending Directive (EU) 2020/1828 and Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2), Whereas: (1) The European Green Deal set out in the communication of the Commission of 11 December 2019 is Europe’s sustainable growth strategy and aims to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, competitive, climate-neutral and circular economy and toxic-free environment. It sets the ambitious objective of ensuring that the Union becomes the first climate neutral continent by 2050. It recognises the advantages of investing in the Union’s competitive sustainability by building a fairer, greener and more digital Europe. Products have a pivotal role to play in this green transition. Underlining that current production processes and consumption patterns remain too linear and dependent on a throughput of new materials extracted, traded and processed into goods that are finally disposed of as waste or emissions, the European Green Deal emphasises the urgent need to transition to a circular economy model and stresses the significant progress that remains to be made. It also identifies energy efficiency as a priority for the decarbonisation of the energy sector and for reaching the climate objectives in 2030 and 2050. (2) To accelerate the transition to a circular economy model, the Commission designed a future-oriented agenda in its communication of 11 March 2020 on a new Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe (CEAP), with the objective of making the regulatory framework fit for a sustainable future. The CEAP underlines that, ‘for citizens, the circular economy will provide high-quality, functional and safe products, which are efficient and affordable, last longer and are designed for reuse, repair, and high-quality recycling’. As set out in CEAP, there is currently no comprehensive set of requirements to ensure that all products placed on the Union market become increasingly sustainable and stand the test of circularity. In particular, product design does not sufficiently promote sustainability over the whole life cycle. As a result, products are being replaced frequently, involving significant energy and resource use in order to produce and distribute new products and dispose of old ones. It is still too difficult for economic operators and citizens to make sustainable choices in relation to products, given that relevant information and affordable options to do so are lacking. This leads to missed opportunities for sustainability and for value-retaining operations, limited demand for secondary materials and obstacles to the adoption of circular business models. (1) OJ C 443, 22.11.2022, p. 123. (2) Position of the European Parliament of 23 April 2024 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 27 May 2024. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj 1/89 EN OJ L, 28.6.2024 (3) A fully functioning internal market for sustainable products is a pre-requisite for the establishment of a circular economy in the Union. Common ecodesign requirements at Union level would enable the development, deployment and scaling-up of new circular economy business models throughout the internal market. Such measures would also
Tags: Energy Demand, Regulation, Energy Efficiency, Circular Economy, Compliance, Deadline, Update, European Green Deal, Industry, Governance, Policy
Sector: Energy