THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products, and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,
After consulting the Ecodesign Consultation Forum,
Whereas:
(1)
Under Directive 2009/125/EC, ecodesign requirements should be set by the Commission for energy-related products representing significant volumes of sales and trade, having significant environmental impact and presenting significant potential for improvement in terms of their environmental impact without entailing excessive costs.
(2)
Article 16(2)(a) of Directive 2009/125/EC provides that the Commission should, as appropriate, introduce an implementing measure for domestic appliances, including household tumble driers.
(3)
The Commission has carried out a preparatory study to analyse the technical, environmental and economic aspects of household tumble driers typically used in households. The study has been developed together with stakeholders and interested parties from the Union and third countries, and the results have been made publicly available.
(4)
This Regulation should cover products designed for drying laundry in households.
(5)
Household combined washer-driers have particular characteristics and should therefore be exempted from the scope of this Regulation.
(6)
The environmental aspect of household tumble driers, identified as significant for the purposes of this Regulation, is energy consumption in the use phase. The annual electricity consumption of household tumble driers is estimated to have been 21 TWh in the European Union in 2005. Unless specific measures are taken, annual electricity consumption is predicted to be 31 TWh in 2020. The preparatory study shows that the energy consumption of products subject to this Regulation can be significantly reduced.
(7)
The preparatory study shows that requirements regarding other ecodesign parameters as referred to in Annex I, Part 1, to Directive 2009/125/EC are not necessary, as the energy consumption of household tumble driers in the use phase is by far the most important environmental aspect. In accordance with Article 6(2) of Directive 2009/125/EC, Member States shall not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market and/or putting into service, within their territories, of household tumble driers on grounds of ecodesign requirements relating to those ecodesign parameters referred to in Annex I, Part 1, of that Directive for which this Regulation provides that no ecodesign requirement is necessary.
(8)
The energy consumption of household tumble driers should be made more efficient by applying existing non-proprietary cost-effective technologies that can reduce the combined costs of purchasing and operating those products.
(9)
The ecodesign requirements should not affect functionality from the end-user’s perspective and should not negatively affect health, safety or the environment. In particular, the benefits of reducing energy consumption during the use phase should more than offset any additional environmental impacts during the production and disposal phases.
(10)
The ecodesign requirements should be introduced gradually in order to provide a sufficient timeframe for manufacturers to redesign products subject to this Regulation. The timing should be such as to avoid negative impacts on the functionalities of equipment on the market, and to take into account cost impacts for end-users and manufacturers, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, while ensuring timely achievement of the objectives of this Regulation.
(11)
Measurements of the relevant product parameters should be performed using reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement methods which take into account the recognised state-of-the-art measurement methods including, where available, harmonised standards adopted by the European standardisation bodies, as listed in Annex I to Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of rules on Information Society services.
(12)
In accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC, this Regulation should specify the applicable conformity assessment procedures.
(13)
In order to facilitate compliance checks, manufacturers should provide information in the technical documentation referred to in Annexes V and VI to Directive 2009/125/EC in so far as that information relates to the requirements laid down in this Regulation.
(14)
In addition to the legally binding requirements laid down in this Regulation, indicative benchmarks for best available technologies should be identified to ensure the wide availability and easy accessibility of information on the life-cycle environmental performance of products subject to this Regulation.
(15)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 19(1) of Directive 2009/125/EC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: