COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 96/60/EC of 19 September 1996 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household combined washer-driers
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/75/EEC of 22 September 1992 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources of household appliances (1), and in particular Articles 9 and 12 thereof,
Whereas electricity use by combined washer-driers accounts for a significant part of total Community energy demand; whereas the scope for reduced energy use by these appliances is substantial;
Whereas a better washing performance often requires a higher consumption of water and energy; whereas information on the washing performance of an appliance is helpful in evaluating the information on its energy and water consumption; whereas this will help consumers make a choice of appliance which is consistent with the rational use of energy;
Whereas the Community, confirming its interest in an international standardization system capable of producing standards that are actually used by all partners in international trade and of meeting the requirements of Community policy, invites the European standards organizations to continue their cooperation with international standards organizations;
Whereas the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (Cenelec) are the bodies recognized as competent to adopt harmonized standards in accordance with the general guidelines for cooperation between the Commission and these two bodies signed on 13 November 1984; whereas, within the meaning of this Directive, a harmonized standard is a technical specification (European standard or harmonization document) adopted by Cenelec, on the basis of a remit (mandate) from the Commission in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 83/189/EEC of 28 March 1983 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (2), as last amended by Commission Decision 96/139/EEC (3), and on the basis of those general guidelines;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the committee set up under Article 10 of Directive 92/75/EEC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. This Directive shall apply to electric mains operated household combined washer-driers. Appliances that can also use other energy sources are excluded.
2. The information required by this Directive shall be measured in accordance with harmonized standards, the reference numbers of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and for which Member States have published the reference numbers of the national standards transposing those harmonized standards. Throughout this Directive any provisions requiring the giving of information relating to noise shall apply only where that information is required pursuant to Article 3 of Council Directive 86/594/EEC (4). This information, where required, shall be measured in accordance with that Directive.
3. The harmonized standards referred to in paragraph 2 shall be drawn up under mandate from the Commission in accordance with Directive 83/189/EEC.
4. In this Directive, except where the context otherwise requires, expressions used have the same meaning as in Directive 92/75/EEC.
Article 2
1. The technical documentation referred to in Article 2 (3) of Directive 92/75/EEC shall include:
- the name and address of the supplier,
- a general description of the model, sufficient for it to be uniquely identified,
- information, including drawings as relevant, on the main design features of the model and in particular items which appreciably affect its energy consumption,
- reports of relevant measurement tests carried out on the model under the test procedures of the harmonized standards referred to in Article 1 (2) of this Directive,
- operating instructions, if any.
2. The label referred to in Article 2 (1) of Directive 92/75/EEC shall be as specified in Annex I to this Directive. The label shall be placed on the outside of the front or top of the appliance, in such a way as to be clearly visible and not obscured.
3. The content and format of the fiche referred to in Article 2 (1) of Directive 92/75/EEC shall be as specified in Annex II to this Directive.
4. In the circumstances covered by Article 5 of Directive 92/75/EEC, and where the offer for sale, hire or hire purchase is provides by means of a printed communication, such as a mail order catalogue, then that printed communication shall include all the information specified in Annex III to this Directive.
5. The energy efficiency class of an appliance, and its washing performance class, shall be as determined in accordance with Annex IV.
Article 3
Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that all suppliers and dealers established in their territory fulfil their obligations under this Directive.
Article 4
1. Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 15 July 1997. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply those provisions from 1 August 1997.
However, Member States shall, until 31 January 1998, permit:
- the placing on the market, the commercialization and/or the display of products and
- the distribution of printed communications referred to in Article 2 (4)
which do not conform with this Directive.
When Member States adopt these provisions, these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
Article 5
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Article 6
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 September 1996.