Pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC the Commission should set ecodesign requirements for energy-related products which account for significant volumes of sales and trade in the Union and which have a significant environmental impact and presenting significant potential for improvement through design in terms of their environmental impact, without entailing excessive costs.

Measures from the ecodesign working plan have an estimated potential to deliver a total in excess of 260 TWh of annual final energy savings in 2030, which is equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 100 million tonnes per year in 2030. Refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function is one of the product groups listed in the Working Plan, with an estimated 48 TWh of annual final energy savings in 2030.

The Commission has carried out two preparatory studies covering the technical, environmental and economic characteristics of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function typically used in the Union. The studies were carried out in close cooperation with stakeholders and interested parties from the Union and third countries. The results of the studies were made public and presented to the Consultation Forum established by Article 18 of Directive 2009/125/EC.

This Regulation should apply to the following refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function: supermarket refrigerating (freezer or refrigerator) cabinets, beverage coolers, ice-cream freezers, gelato-scooping cabinets and refrigerated vending machines.

The environmental aspect of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function that has been identified as most significant for the purposes of this Regulation is energy consumption in the use phase. This energy consumption could be reduced, without increasing the combined costs of purchasing and operating these products, using cost-effective non-proprietary technologies. Direct emissions from refrigerants and the availability of spare parts were also identified as relevant.

The annual energy consumption of products subject to this Regulation in the Union was estimated at 65 TWh in 2015, corresponding to 26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. The energy consumption of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function in a business-as-usual scenario is projected to decrease by 2030. However, this decrease is expected to slow down unless ecodesign requirements are set.

This Regulation applies to products with varying technical characteristics and functionalities. For this reason energy efficiency requirements are set according to the functionality of the appliances. In this functionality approach, a minimum breakdown of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function categories is proposed, this will bring clear signals to the markets about more/less energy efficient refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function types with the same function. Inefficient refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function types will have more difficulties to reach a certain energy labelling class or may even not meet the minimum energy requirements.

In accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC, this Regulation should specify the applicable conformity assessment procedures.

To facilitate compliance checks, manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives should provide information in the technical documentation referred to in Annexes IV and V to Directive 2009/125/EC in so far as that information relates to the requirements laid down in this Regulation.

To improve the effectiveness of this Regulation and to protect consumers, products that automatically alter their performance in test conditions to improve the declared parameters should be prohibited.

In addition to the legally binding requirements laid down in this Regulation, benchmarks for best available technologies should be identified to make information on the products' environmental performance over their lifecycle subject to this Regulation widely available and easily accessible, in accordance with Directive 2009/125/EC, point 3(2) of Annex I.

A review of this Regulation should assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of its provisions in achieving its goals. The timing of the review should allow for all provisions to be implemented.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by point 1 of Article 19 of Directive 2009/125/EC,