The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021

Marking of plastic components

12.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), plastic components heavier than 50 g must be legibly marked by specifying the type of polymer, with the appropriate standard symbols or abbreviated terms, as specified in standards produced by an international standardising body, and set between the punctuation marks “>” and “<”.

(2) Plastic components are exempt from marking requirements in the following circumstances—

(a) marking is not possible because of the shape or size of the component;

(b) the marking would impact on the performance or functionality of the plastic component; or

(c) marking is not possible because of the moulding method.

(3) For the following plastic components no marking is required—

(a) packaging, tape, labels and stretch wraps;

(b) wiring, cables and connectors, rubber parts and any item where there is insufficient appropriate surface area available for the marking to be of a legible size;

(c) PCB assemblies, PMMA boards, optical components, electrostatic discharge components, electromagnetic interference components, and speakers;

(d) transparent parts where the marking would obstruct the function of the part in question.

(4) Components containing flame retardants must additionally be legibly marked with the abbreviated term of the polymer followed by a hyphen, then the symbol ‘FR’ followed by the code number of the flame retardant in parentheses. The marking on the enclosure and stand components must be clearly visible and readable.