Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1428
of 25 August 2015
amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 with regard to ecodesign requirements for non-directional household lamps and Commission Regulation (EC) No 245/2009 with regard to ecodesign requirements for fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast, for high intensity discharge lamps, and for ballasts and luminaires able to operate such lamps and repealing Directive 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1194/2012 with regard to ecodesign requirements for directional lamps, light emitting diode lamps and related equipment
(Text with EEA relevance)
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(1), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,
After consulting the Ecodesign Consultation Forum,
Whereas:
(1) The Commission is required to carry out a review of Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009(2) in light of technological progress, taking particular note of the evolution of sales of special purpose lamp types so as to verify that they are not used for general lighting purposes, of the development of new technologies such as LEDs and of the feasibility of establishing energy efficiency requirements at the ‘A’ class level as defined in Commission Directive 98/11/EC(3).
(2) According to the evidence produced in the review of Regulation (EC) No 244/2009, it does not appear to be economically feasible for manufacturers to develop and place on the market from 1 September 2016 onwards, mains voltage halogen lamps achieving the limit set for ‘stage 6’ in Table 1 of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 regarding the maximum rated power for a given rated luminous flux. An assessment of the predicted developments of more energy efficient lighting technologies indicates that a more optimal time point for the introduction of that limit would be 1 September 2018.
(3) In order to maximise the environmental benefits and minimise any negative economic impacts for the user, it is necessary to require future luminaire designs to be compatible with energy efficient lighting solutions. The risk of a ‘lock-in’ effect to old, discontinued technologies should be minimised by ensuring that luminaires placed on the market are fully compatible with highly efficient lamps of at least the energy efficiency class ‘A+’ pursuant to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 874/2012(4).
(4) The review of Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 revealed the need to update and clarify the definition of special purpose lamps, with the aim to reduce the use of special purpose lamps in general lighting applications and adapt the requirements to technological developments. The regulatory requirements should further facilitate the use of the most energy efficient lighting solution for a given special application.
(5) It is necessary to ensure coherence between Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1194/2012(5) with respect to the definition and product information requirements of special purpose products, which can be achieved best through a combined amendment of both Regulations. This should simplify the compliance with the regulatory requirements for manufacturers and suppliers, and support effective market surveillance by national authorities.
(6) The review of Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 concludes that the feasibility of establishing energy efficiency requirements at the ‘A’ class level or higher should be examined in a thorough follow-up study, which should also evaluate the feasibility of increasing energy efficiency requirements for products covered in Commission Regulation (EC) No 245/2009(6) and Regulation (EU) No 1194/2012, of widening the scope of each to optimise reductions in energy consumption, and of unifying all three Regulations into a single, coherent implementing measure on Ecodesign requirements for lighting products.
(7) Regulation (EC) No 245/2009 identifies the energy in the use phase and the mercury content of lamps as its significant purpose. Thus, having product performance requirements for lamps without either product efficacy requirements or mercury content results in an unnecessary regulatory burden, and might lead to a product's phase-out on non-significant grounds. Amending the scope of product performance requirements to be in line with the scope of the Regulation's significant purpose should therefore improve regulatory appropriateness.
(8) In considering the need for revising the lighting related ecodesign and energy labelling regulations, it will be appropriate to reconsider, inter alia, the exemption of lamps with G9 and R7s socket type, and the minimum energy performance requirements of lamps.
(9) 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:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 of 18 March 2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for non-directional household lamps (OJ L 76, 24.3.2009, p. 3).
Commission Directive 98/11/EC of 27 January 1998 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household lamps (OJ L 71, 10.3.1998, p. 1).
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 874/2012 of 12 July 2012 supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of electrical lamps and luminaires (OJ L 258, 26.9.2012, p. 1).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1194/2012 of 12 December 2012 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for directional lamps, light emitting diode lamps and related equipment (OJ L 342, 14.12.2012, p. 1).
Commission Regulation (EC) No 245/2009 of 18 March 2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast, for high intensity discharge lamps, and for ballasts and luminaires able to operate such lamps, and repealing Directive 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 76, 24.3.2009, p. 17).