THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to Article 114 of 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,
Whereas:
(1) 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 present significant potential for improvement through design in terms of their environmental impact, without entailing excessive costs.
(2) The Communication from the Commission COM(2016)773(2) (ecodesign working plan) established by the Commission in application of Article 16(1) of Directive 2009/125/EC sets out the working priorities under the ecodesign and energy labelling framework for the period 2016-2019. The ecodesign working plan identifies the energy-related product groups to be considered as priorities for the undertaking of preparatory studies and eventual adoption of implementing measures, as well as the review of Commission Regulation (EC) No 278/2009(3).
(3) Measures from the ecodesign working plan have an estimated potential to deliver by 2030 annual final energy savings in excess of 260 TWh, which is equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 100 million tonnes. External power supplies are one of the product groups listed in the working plan.
(4) The Commission established ecodesign requirements for external power supplies in Regulation (EC) No 278/2009. Pursuant to this Regulation the Commission should review it in the light of technological progress.
(5) The Commission has reviewed Regulation (EC) No 278/2009 and analysed the technical, environmental and economic aspects of external power supplies as well as real-life user behaviour. The review was carried out in close cooperation with stakeholders and interested parties from the Union and third countries. The results of the review were made public and presented to the Consultation Forum established by Article 18 of Directive 2009/125/EC.
(6) The review study shows that external power supplies are placed on the Union market in large quantities, and outlines the benefits of updating the ecodesign requirements and adapting them to technological progress.
(7) Multiple voltage output external power supplies, which are not covered by Regulation (EC) No 278/2009, are being placed on the Union market in increasing numbers. They should therefore be included in the scope of the Regulation to ensure further energy savings and provide a level playing field.
(8) It is appropriate for external power supplies that adapt their output voltage to the primary load to continue to be included in the scope of the Regulation.
(9) Ecodesign requirements should harmonise the energy consumption of external power supplies, thus contributing to the functioning of the internal market. They should also improve the environmental performance of external power supplies. Potential annual final energy savings of 4,3 TWh by 2030, corresponding to 1,45 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, were estimated compared with the situation where no further measures are taken.
(10) The relevant product parameters should be measured using reliable, accurate and reproducible methods. Those methods should take into account recognised state-of-the-art measurement methods including, where available, harmonised standards adopted by the European standardisation organisations, as listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council(4).
(11) In accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC, this Regulation should specify the applicable conformity assessment procedures.
(12) 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.
(13) In addition to the legally binding requirements laid down in this Regulation, benchmarks for best available technologies should be identified to make information on products’ environmental performance over their life cycle subject to this Regulation widely available and easily accessible, in accordance with Directive 2009/125/EC, Annex I, part 3, point 2.
(14) A review of this Regulation should assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of its provisions in achieving its goals. The timing of the review should be sufficient for all provisions to be implemented and show an effect on the market.
(15) Regulation (EC) No 278/2009 should therefore be repealed.
(16) 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:
Communication from the Commission, Ecodesign working plan 2016-2019, COM(2016) 773 final, 30.11.2016.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 278/2009 of 6 April 2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for no-load condition electric power consumption and average active efficiency of external power supplies (OJ L 93, 7.4.2009, p. 3).
Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on European standardisation, amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC, 95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/23/EC and 2009/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decision 87/95/EEC and Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 316, 14.11.2012, p. 12).