COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 107/2009
of 4 February 2009
implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to
ecodesign requirements for simple set-top boxes
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,
Having regard to Directive 2005/32/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing aframework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC andDirectives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the EuropeanParliament and of the Council (
1), and in particular
Article 15(1) thereof,
After consulting the Ecodesign Consultation Forum,Whereas:
(1) Under Directive 2005/32/EC ecodesign requirements
should be set by the Commission for energy-usingproducts representing significant volumes of sales andtrade, having a significant environmental impact andpresenting significant potential for improvement interms of their environmental impact without entailingexcessive costs.
(2) Article 16(2) first indent of Directive 2005/32/ECprovides that in accordance with the procedure referredto in Article 19(3) and the criteria set out in
Article 15(2), and after consulting the Consultation
Forum, the Commission will as appropriate introduceimplementing measures targeting consumer electronics.
(3) The Commission has carried out a preparatory studywhich analysed the technical, environmental andeconomic aspects of simple set-top boxes (hereinafterSSTBs). The study has been developed together withstakeholders and interested parties from the EU andthird countries, and the results have been madepublicly available.
(4) It has been stated in the preparatory study that thenumber of SSTBs placed on the Community marketwill grow from 28 million in 2008 to 56 million in2014, and the annual electricity consumption of SSTBswill grow from 6 TWh in 2010 to 14 TWh in 2014, butthat the electricity consumption of SSTBs can be signifi­cantly reduced in a cost effective manner.(5) The electricity consumption of SSTBs can be reduced byimplementing existing non-proprietary design solutions,which, despite being cost-effective, are not introduced
onto the market in a satisfactory way because end-
users are unaware of the running costs of SSTBs,providing manufacturers with no incentive to integratesuch solutions to reduced power consumption duringuse.
(6) Ecodesign requirements for the power consumption ofSSTBs should be set with a view to harmonisingecodesign requirements for these devices throughoutthe Community and contributing to the functioning ofthe internal market and to the improvement of the envi­
ronmental performance of these devices.
(7) This Regulation should increase the market penetration
of technologies yielding improved energy efficiency ofSSTBs, leading to estimated annual energy savings of9 TWh in 2014, compared to a business as usualscenario.
(8) The ecodesign requirements should not have a negativeimpact on the functionality of the product and shouldnot negatively affect health, safety and the environment.
(9) A staged entry into force of the ecodesign requirementsshould provide an appropriate timeframe for manufac­turers to redesign products. The timing of the stagesshould be set in such a way that negative impacts
related to the functionalities of equipment on the
market are avoided and cost impacts for manufacturers,in particular SMEs, are taken into account, while ensuringtimely achievement of the policy objectives.
(10) Measurements of power consumption should beperformed taking into account the generally recognisedstate of the art; manufacturers may apply harmonisedstandards established in accordance with Article 9 ofDirective 2005/32/EC.
(11) The requirements laid down in this Regulation shouldprevail over the requirements laid down in CommissionRegulation (EC) No 1275/2008 implementing Directive2005/32/EC with regard to ecodesign requirements forthe standby and off mode power consumption of elec­trical and electronic household and office equipment (
2).EN L 36/8 Official Journal of the European Union 5.2.2009
(1) OJ L 191, 22.7.2005, p. 29. (2) OJ L 339, 18.12.2008, p. 45.(12) Pursuant to Article 8(2) of Directive 2005/32/EC, this
Regulation should specify that the applicable conformityassessment procedures are the internal design control setout in Annex IV to Directive 2005/32/EC and themanagement system set out in Annex V to Directive2005/32/EC.
(13) In order to facilitate compliance checks manufacturersshould be requested to provide information in thetechnical documentation referred to in Annexes IV and
V of Directive 2005/32/EC in so far as it relates to the
requirements laid down in this implementing measure.
(14) Benchmarks for currently available SSTBs with lowpower consumption should be identified. The availabilityof a ‘0 W-mode ’on SSTBs could support consumers ′
behaviour and decisions to reduce unnecessary loss ofenergy. Benchmarks help to ensure wide availabilityand easy access to information, in particular for SMEsand very small firms, which further facilitates the inte­gration of best design technologies for reducing theenergy consumption of SSTBs.
(15) The measures provided for in this Regulation are inaccordance with the opinion of the Committee estab­lished by Article 19(1) of Directive 2005/32/EC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Subject matter and scope
This Regulation establishes ecodesign requirements for simple
set-top boxes.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions set out in
Directive 2005/32/EC shall apply. The following definitionsshall also apply:
1.‘Simple set-top box ’(SSTB) means a stand-alone device
which, irrespectively of the interfaces used,
(a) has the primary function of converting standard-defi­
nition (SD) or high-definition (HD), free-to-air digitalbroadcast signals to analogue broadcast signals suitablefor analogue television or radio;
(b) has no ‘conditional access ’(CA) function;(c) offers no recording function based on removable media
in a standard library format.
A SSTB can be equipped with the following additional
functions and/or components which do not constitute aminimum specification of an SSTB:
(a) time-shift and recording functions using an integrated
hard disk;
(b) conversion of HD broadcast signal reception to HD or
SD video output;
(c) second tuner.
2.‘Standby mode(s) ’means a condition where the equipment is
connected to the mains power source, depends on energyinput from the mains power source to work as intended andprovides only the following functions, which may persist for
an indefinite time:
(a) reactivation function, or reactivation function and only
an indication of enabled reactivation function; and/or
(b) information or status display.
3.‘Reactivation function ’means a function enabling the acti­
vation of other modes, including active mode, by remoteswitch, including remote control, internal sensor, timer toa condition providing additional functions, including the
main function.
4.‘Information or status display ’means a continuous function
providing information or indicating the status of the
equipment in a display, including clocks.
5.‘Active mode(s) ’means a condition in which the equipment
is connected to the mains power source and at least one ofthe main function(s) providing the intended service of theequipment has been activated.
6.‘Automatic power down ’means a function which switches
the active mode of an SSTB into standby mode after a periodin the active mode following the last user interaction and/orchannel change.
7.‘Second tuner ’means a part of the SSTB available for inde­
pendent recording while allowing to watch a differentprogramme.
8.‘Conditional access ’(CA) means a provider-controlled broad­
casting service requiring a market subscription televisionservice.EN 5.2.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 36/9Article 3
Ecodesign requirements
The ecodesign requirements for SSTBs are set out in Annex I.
Article 4
Relationship with Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008
The requirements laid down in this Regulation shall prevail over
the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008.
Article 5
Conformity assessment
The procedure for assessing conformity referred to in
Article 8(2) of Directive 2005/32/EC shall be the internaldesign control system set out in Annex IV to Directive2005/32/EC or the management system set out in Annex Vto Directive 2005/32/EC.
Article 6
Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes
Surveillance checks shall be carried out in accordance with the
verification procedure set out in Annex II.Article 7
Benchmarks
The indicative benchmarks for best-performing products and
technology currently available on the market are identified inAnnex III.
Article 8
Revision
No later than five years after the entry into force of this Regu­
lation the Commission shall review it in the light of techno­logical progress and present the result of this review to theConsultation Forum.
Article 9
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following
its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
Point 1 of Annex I shall apply as from one year after the date
referred to in the first paragraph.
Point 2 of Annex I shall apply as from three years after the date
referred to in the first paragraph.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 4 February 2009.
For the Commission
Andris PIEBALGS
Member of the CommissionEN L 36/10 Official Journal of the European Union 5.2.2009ANNEX I
Ecodesign requirements
1. One year after this Regulation has come into force, SSTBs placed on the market shall not exceed the following power
consumption limits; SSTBs with an integrated hard disk and/or second tuner are exempt from that requirement:
Standby mode Active mode
Simple STB 1,00 W 5,00 W
Allowance for display function in standby + 1,00 W —
Allowance for decoding HD signals — + 3,00 W
2. Three years after this Regulation has come into force SSTBs, placed on the market shall not exceed the following
power consumption limits:
Standby mode Active mode
Simple STB 0,50 W 5,00 W
Allowance for display function in standby + 0,50 W —
Allowance for hard disk — + 6,00 W
Allowance for second tuner — + 1,00 W
Allowance for decoding HD signals — + 1,00 W
3.Availability of standby mode
One year after this Regulation has come into force, SSTBs shall provide standby mode.
4.Automatic power-down
One year after this implementing measure has come into force, SSTBs shall be equipped with an ‘automatic power-
down ’or similar function with the following characteristics:
—the SSTB shall be automatically switched from active mode into standby after less than three hours in active mode
following the last user interaction and/or a channel change with an alert message two minutes before going into
standby mode.
—the ‘automatic power-down ’function shall be set as default.
5.Measurements
The power consumption referred to in Points 1 and 2 shall be established by a reliable, accurate and reproducible
measurement procedure, which takes into account the generally recognised state of the art.
Measurements of power of 0,50 W or greater shall be made with an uncertainty of less than or equal to 2 % at the
95 % confidence level. Measurements of power of less than 0,50 W shall be made with an uncertainty of less than or
equal to 0,01 W at the 95 % confidence level.EN 5.2.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 36/116.Information to be provided by the manufacturers for the purposes of conformity assessment
For the purposes of conformity assessment pursuant to Article 5, the technical documentation shall contain the
following elements:
(a)For standby and active modes
—The power consumption data in Watts rounded to the second decimal place including consumption data for
the different additional functions and/or components
—The measurement method used
—Period of measurement
—Description of how the appliance mode was selected or programmed
—Sequence of events to reach the mode where the equipment automatically changes modes
—Any notes regarding the operation of the equipment
(b)Test parameters for measurements
—Ambient temperature
—Test voltage in V and frequency in Hz
—Total harmonic distortion of the electricity supply system
—The fluctuation of the power supply voltage during the tests
—Information and documentation on the instrumentation, set-up and circuits used for electrical testing
—Input signals in RF (for digital terrestrial broadcasts) or IF (for satellite broadcasts)
—Audio/video test signals as described in the MPEG-2 transport stream
—Adjustment of controls
The power requirements of peripheral devices powered by the STB for broadcast reception, such as active terrestrial
antenna, satellite LNB or any cable or telecom modem are not required to be included in the technical documentation.
7.Information to be provided by the manufacturers for the purposes of consumer information
Manufacturers shall ensure that consumers of SSTBs are provided with the power consumption in Watts rounded to
the first decimal place of standby and active modes of the SSTB.EN L 36/12 Official Journal of the European Union 5.2.2009ANNEX II
Verification procedure
When performing the market surveillance checks referred to in Article 3(2) of Directive 2005/32/EC the authorities of the
Member States shall apply the following verification procedure for the applicable requirements set out in Annex I, Points1, 2 and 4, as applicable.
For power consumption larger than 1,00 W:
Member State authorities shall test one single unit.The model shall be considered to comply with the provisions set out in Annex I, Points 1 and 2, as applicable, of this
Regulation if the results for active and standby mode conditions, as applicable, do no exceed the limit values by more
than 10 %.
Otherwise, three more units shall be tested. The model shall be considered to comply with this Regulation if the average
of the results of the latter three tests for active and standby mode conditions, as applicable, does not exceed the limit
values by more than 10 %.
For power consumption smaller than, or equal to, 1,00 W:Member State authorities shall test one single unit.
The model shall be considered to comply with the provisions set out in Annex I, Points 1 and 2, as applicable, of this
Regulation if the results for active and/or standby mode conditions, as applicable, do not exceed the limit values by morethan 0,10 W.
Otherwise, three more units shall be tested. The model shall be considered to comply with this Regulation if the average
of the results of the latter three tests for active and/or standby conditions, as applicable, does not exceed the limit valuesby more than 0,10 W.
Otherwise, the model shall be considered not to comply.EN 5.2.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 36/13ANNEX III
Benchmarks
The following indicative benchmarks are identified for the purpose of Annex I, part 3, point 2, of Directive 2005/32/EC.
They refer to the best available technology at the date of adopting this Regulation:
SSTB without any additional features:
—Active mode: 4,00 W
—Standby mode excluding the display function: 0,25 W
—Off-mode: 0 W
SSTB with an integrated hard drive:
—Active mode: 10,00 W
—Standby mode excluding the display function: 0,25 W
—Off-mode 0 W:
The above benchmarks are established on the basis of a SSTB with a basic configuration, an ‘automatic power down ’
function and a hard-off switch.EN L 36/14 Official Journal of the European Union 5.2.2009