Energy labelling proposal: Parliament adopts opinion in 1st reading

The Proposal for a Directive on labelling of energy-related products was debated and voted on in the European Parliament’s plenary session this month. The proposal was adopted with amendments by 566 in favour, 28 against and 39 abstentions. The proposal will now go into second reading. The European Parliament also included amendments on extending the scope to certain construction products, defining the responsibilities of Member States and suppliers and on implementing measures.

CEMBUREAU insists that building and construction products should be excluded from the scope of the Energy Labelling Directive.

The European Parliament also called on the European Commission to conduct a feasibility study in view of extending the scope of the Directive to all products in 2010. The issue is on the agenda of the Energy Council on 12 June 2009 for adoption of a progress report. Discussions in the Council are already well underway but the proposal will be treated mostly in the second semester of 2009 by the Swedish Presidency, whose priority is energy efficiency. Council wants to stick to the Commission’s proposal and will probably reject the European Parliament amendments that go beyond the extension of the scope.