COMMISSION OP THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0M(91) 285 final - SYN 356 
Brussels, 6 August 1991 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
on the indication by labelling and standard product information 
of the consumption of energy and other resources 
of househoId appIi ances 
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 3 
I. Introduction 3 
II. History of energy labelling in the Community 5 
III. Need for energy labelling and product information 6 
IV. Costs and benefits of an energy labelling scheme 7 
V. Criteria for the proposed Directive 8 
VI. Comments on Articles of the proposed Directive 9 
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 14 
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This Directive, and the Community labelling scheme for domestic 
appliances that will flow from it, have a dual purpose: 
to encourage energy conservation through a better consumer 
understanding and 
to ensure that measures taken by Member States in this area do 
not hinder trade. 
2. The Council of Ministers, at their meeting on 16 September 1986, set 
new energy objectives for the Community in 1995, which included a 
further improvement in energy efficiency of at least 20%. An evaluation 
of the energy policies of the Member States carried out in 1988 
indicated that the Council's 1995 energy efficiency objective was 
unlikely to be attained unless stronger policy measures were taken. 
Energy efficiency efforts, and in particular investment in discrete 
energy efficiency projects, seemed to be decreasing. A recent 
evaluation of the Member State's energy policies confirmed the trend 
observed in 1988. If the rate of efficiency improvements remains at its 
present average level then the Community can only expect to improve 
energy efficiency by another 10% over 1988/95. This would be equivalent 
to an energy efficiency improvement of under 14% for the period 
1985/95, significantly less than the objective established in 1986. 
While the rate of improvement prior to the 1986 oil price collapse was 
clearly better than that thereafter, the fact that at no point in time 
in the past have efficiency improvements reached the rate needed to 
satisfy Community energy policy objectives indicates that more 
stringent measures must be undertaken. 
3. Recent changes in the perception of the security of future oil supplies 
generated by the Gulf Conflict and the concern for the environment have 
placed energy efficiency high on the political agenda. 
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4. The complacency exhibited in the area of energy efficiency has meant 
that the effect of economic growth on energy consumption has not been 
nullified by increasing efficiency, so that energy consumption has 
increased from 645 Mtoe in 1982 to 711 Mtoe in 1989. Energy consumption 
in industry has been almost static over the period (mainly due to 
industrial restructuring) while substantial increases in energy 
consumption have been recorded in the transport and building sectors. 
More specifically in the principal area covered by this Directive, 
domestic electrical demand rose from 581 Twh in 1982 to 789 Twh in 
1989, an increase of 35%. Thus domestic electricity consumption has 
risen from 8.1% of total energy consumption in 1982 to 9.5% in 1989. 
5. The combined Energy/Environment Council meeting in Luxembourg on 
November 1990 set a new target to stabilise Community C02 emissions 
by the year 2000 at 1990 levels. Since energy efficiency represents the 
single most effective means of reducing C02 emission, the achievement 
of the Council's stated objective will require the application of 
robust energy efficiency policies within the Community. 
6. In order to assist Member States to pursue an energy efficiency policy 
the Council on 5 June 1989 approved a Community action programme for 
improving the efficiency of electricity use (PACE)*1). Moreover the 
Commission on 3 October 1990 proposed a Community energy efficiency 
programme (SAVE)*2) beginning in 1991 and having a duration of five 
years. The main thrust of this programme is a comprehensive series of 
legislative actions supported by targetted pilot actions as well as a 
significant effort to improve information flows between Member States 
and between the Community and other interested parties. This proposal 
forms part of the SAVE programme. 
7. The current Directive addresses the problem of how specific energy 
efficiency of household appliances may be improved, through better 
consumer information, and hence increased competition between 
manufacturers. The principal effect will be on electricity consumption, 
but appliances using other forms of energy, such as gas, will also be 
included. In view of this, the Commission considers the introduction of 
implementing directives for the appliances listed in the Directive as a 
matter of urgency. 
(1) 0J No L 157, 9.6.1989, p. 32. 
(2) C0M(90) 365 final. 
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II. HISTORY OF ENERGY LABELLING IN THE COMMUNITY 
8. In 1979 the Council passed Directive 79/530/EEC*3> intended to 
introduce a Community wide scheme for energy labelling of household 
appliances. This allowed, but did not oblige, Member States to 
introduce obligatory energy labels. At the same time the Council passed 
an implementing directive concerning ovens (Directive 79/531/EEC(4)). 
The Commission brought forward proposals for a number of other 
appliances. However, mainly as a result of disagreement over technical 
measurement standards, and margins of error, none of these proposals 
was accepted by the Council. This meant that interest in the scheme, 
and so its impact, was low. However, following this, a number of Member 
States took their own initiative. Germany, in particular, introduced a 
voluntary scheme concerning the main domestic appliances. This 
introduced labels, initially based on those in the Commission 
proposals, and product information. More recently, interest has 
revived, and several Member States including the Netherlands, Denmark 
and the UK have been working on their own schemes. In the case of 
Denmark this led to a formal proposal for an obligatory scheme. This 
was notified to the Commission on 22 April 1990 under Directive 
83/189/EE*5), which provides for Member States to inform the 
Commission of new technical standards and regulations and allows for 
their deferral, where their introduction would create barriers to the 
free movement of goods. The Commission then decided that such a scheme 
was likely to hinder trade between Member States. Accordingly, under 
Article 9(2) of that Directive, it asked Denmark to defer its proposal 
for a year and announced its intention to propose a harmonized scheme 
within that time limit. Since the failure to agree on further 
implementing directives, further work has been done on measurement 
standards and methods, and there is general acceptance of a method of 
dealing with margins of error. Moreover, Member States experience with 
their own schemes has led to the resolution of many of these technical 
problems. This should allow previous technical problems to be overcome. 
(3) 0J No L 145, 13.6.1979, p. 1. 
(4) 0J No L 145, 13.6.1979, p. 7. 
(5) 0J No L 109, 26.4.1983, p. 8. 
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III. NEED FOR ENERGY LABELLING AND PRODUCT INFORMATION 
9. The purpose of this scheme is to inform potential purchasers of the 
energy consumption of the various appliances on offer, so they can take 
account of this, and of the resultant running costs, in making their 
purchase decisions. Various surveys have shown that the energy 
consumption of domestic appliances varies widely, and that, at current 
levels of efficiency, there is no particular relationship between 
energy efficiency and price or performance. Thus, if potential 
purchasers were aware of and understood their differences, they would 
tend to buy appliances which were more energy efficient, cost less to 
run, and caused less environmental concern. This would, through the 
normal competitive process, put considerable pressure on manufacturers 
to increase their efforts to produce more efficient appliances. 
However, at present, while some customers do receive this information, 
most do not. As a result most purchasers show no preference for energy 
efficient appliances, and in most Member States the market fails to 
encourage the manufacture of such appliances. 
10. The scheme may also make users of these appliances more aware of how 
energy consumption depends on the way they use the appliance. This may, 
indirectly encourage them to use these appliances more efficiently. 
11. It is difficult to assess the likely impact of a labelling and 
information scheme on the energy efficiency of appliances. However, 
technical estimates indicate that, even though the average energy 
consumption of appliances has fallen substantially over the last 
decade, there are still very large potential savings of perhaps a 
quarter of 208 Twh(6X7) 0f electricity consumed by appliances listed 
in this directive. Clearly this potential saving will not be achieved 
by labelling and information alone. Experience in for example the U.S. 
would indicate that labelling and information schemes work best to 
achieve these savings when combined with other measures, such as 
minimum efficiency standards (either voluntary or compulsory) or fiscal 
measures. 
(6) Estimate desired from Fitchner 'The potential for energy saving in the 
application of electrical energy'. 
(7) Some of the appliances may also use other forms of energy such as 
gas or hot water, but the majority of energy use is electric. 
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IV. COSTS AND BENEFITS OF AN ENERGY LABELLING SCHEME 
12. As stated above it is difficult to give estimates of the benefit of the 
introduction of a universal energy labelling scheme, or indeed given 
the flexibility of this scheme, to estimate its costs. However it is 
very clear that the benefits far outweigh the costs. For example for a 
refrigerator, the average energy saving to the consumer over an 
appliance lifetime, resulting from the introduction of labelling may be 
of the order of ECU 25-50, while the cost of the labelling scheme, per 
appliance will be less than ECU 1. While the figure for other 
appliances may of course vary considerably, it is still clear that the 
benefits will be one or two orders of magnitude greater than the costs. 
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V. CRITERIA FOR THE PROPOSED DIRECTIVE 
13. The object of this scheme is to persuade consumers to buy and 
manufacturers to produce more energy efficient appliances. It may also, 
indirectly encourage their more efficient use. In order to maximize its 
impact there are a number of basic criteria it should fulfil: 
(i) The scheme must be uniform. If there are a variety of differing 
designs of labels, or of product information fiches, for the same 
type of appliance, consumers may be confused when comparing rival 
appliances, and so may ignore the energy consumption information 
altogether. 
(ii) The scheme must be universal, all appliances of a given type must 
be labelled. Otherwise there is a danger that consumers may 
prefer not to be reminded of the cost of running an appliance, 
and so may prefer a less efficient, but unlabel led, appliance to 
a more efficient one, displayed with a label. 
(iii) The label and the fiche must be as clear as possible, while 
conveying as much relevant information as possible. 
(iv) The scheme should include both a label, for those who buy 'on 
impulse' and a product fiche for those who are willing to devote 
more time to studying the relative merits of various possible 
appliances. 
(v) The scheme should be flexible. In particular it should allow for 
updating in the tight of improved efficiency of appliances, for 
the introduction of minimum efficiency standards (either 
voluntary or mandatory) and for the introduction of further 
appliances. 
(vi) The scheme should be as simple to run as possible, and lead to 
the minimum possible costs. 
(vii) Finally the scheme should eliminate any barriers to trade between 
Member States in respect of energy labelling and product 
information and should seek to foster the single market. 
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VI. COMMENTS ON ARTICLES OF THE PROPOSED DIRECTIVE 
Comments on Article 1 
This describes the objectives of the directive. As stated above these are to 
avoid the obstacles to the single market that would result from the imposition 
of labelling schemes by individual Member States. It seeks to do this by the 
introduction of a uniform Community scheme that achieves the benefits sought 
from the national schemes, and, as far as possible, meets the above criteria. 
The Article also lists those appliances whose Community wide use consumes the 
most energy, and makes provision for addition to this list. This may prove 
necessary either as the result of the introduction of new appliances, or 
because the global energy use of an existing appliance increases, e.g. as a 
result of increasing ownership. 
Comments on Article 2 
This provides for harmonized measurement standards and methods, so that each 
model needs only follow one test procedure. It puts responsibility for this 
testing and its accuracy on the manufacturer, or its representative, who will 
be best placed to carry it out. 
It also provides for the keeping of technical documentation, within the 
Community, so that should there be a dispute as to the accuracy of a label or a 
fiche, then the basis on which the manufacturer made its claims can be more 
easiI y assessed. 
Comments on Article 3 
This requires the manufacturer to provide both a label and a fiche of product 
information. The label is intended for those who wish to buy the appliance 
immediately. The fiche provides rather more complete information on the main 
characteristics including the energy efficiency of appliances (e.g. the energy 
consumption of the various cycles). This information is provided in a standard 
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form that allows those potential purchasers, who wish to study the comparative 
merits of various competing models to have more complete information available 
in a standard form to take away and compare at leisure. It also provides a 
source of this information for others (Member States, consumer organizations, 
dealers etc.) who want to provide comparative tables. It may also be used to 
include information as to the environmental consequences of using the 
appliance, and on how to use the appliance appropriately. 
Comments on Article 4 
This deals with the respective responsibilities of dealers (mainly retailers) 
and manufacturers. It should be noted that only a very small proportion of 
appliances are displayed in shops or elsewhere, the vast majority being 
supplied direct to customers, probably still in their protective packing. Under 
the existing Directive (79/530/EEC) manufacturers are obliged to supply a 
complete set of labels with each appliance. This leads to a large waste of 
labels as only a small proportion are used. Moreover in the single market 
manufacturers do not know where an appliance will finally be sold, and so which 
language label to supply. 
In view of this the present Directive provides for dealers to attach the label, 
ensuring it is in the correct language, and implying that it needs only be 
supplied in numbers sufficient for those appliances that are actually 
displayed. Manufacturers are allowed to work out their own system for the 
supply of labels in the most cost effective way possible. However, as dealers 
will not be able to display, and so effectively to sell, appliances if they do 
not have labels the Article provides for a rapid back up system in case the 
manufacturers' system fails, for example in the case of parallel trade, to 
supply the relevant label. 
The Article also deals with the legal responsabiIity for incorrect labels or 
information fiches. It provides that were a manufacturer provided incorrect 
information, or otherwise failed to fulfil its obligations then the ultimate 
responsibility lies with it. However, as it will be difficult to directly 
pursue manufacturers, the Directive provides for retailers to have Joint legal 
responsibility, but provides for them to be indemnified by manufacturers. 
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Comments on Article S 
This allows for the implementing directives to make provision for the supply of 
energy consumption information in those cases where potential purchasers will 
not see an item displayed, so helping them to make a rational choice of 
appliance. At present this would mainly apply to mail order, and 'catalogue 
shops'. The Article is only permissive, as it would not, given present 
experience, be possible to make provision for all such selling techniques, 
including any yet to be developed, nor would it make administrative sense to 
provide for techniques that only account for a low level of sales. 
Comments on Article 6 
This applies where other Community legislation provides for other information 
about the same appliances, in particular for information on airborne noise, 
which was to be included on the label provided for under the previous energy 
labelling Directive (79/530). This will allow for the amalgamation of labels or 
information fiches where this seems appropriate. 
Comments on Article 7 
This specifies the role to be played by Member States in the implementation of 
this scheme. Apart from ensuring the proper running of the scheme in indent (a) 
and (b), it obliges them (indent c) to prohibit rival labelling schemes if 
these could lead to confusion. Indent (d) provides that dealers must be able to 
take direct legal action to force manufacturers to fulfil their duties. This 
allows for a large degree of self policing. Similarly, indent (e) provides that 
consumers can take action against retailers, who will normally be much closer, 
and so easier to deal with. It should be noted that the measures specified in 
this Article need not be statutory. Thus those Member States with working 
voluntary energy labelling and information schemes, could enforce 
manufacturers' obligations by contract. 
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Comments on Article 8 
This provides Member States to monitor compliance with this Directive and the 
implementing directives. They may subcontract their duties under this Directive 
to delegated bodies. 
Comments on Article 9 
This is a single market provision, which prohibits Member States from banning 
the marketing of appliances on grounds relating to energy consumption 
information, where they comply with the Directive, and with the relevant 
implementing directive. It does not effect any rights in relation to appliances 
not covered by an implementing directive, nor does it affect any rights 
relating to other grounds, in particular in relation to minimum efficiency 
standards. 
Comments on Article 10 
This provides for the Commission, assisted by a committee, to take the 
implementing directives and to add further appliances to the list in Article 1. 
Comments on Article 11 
In accordance with the Commissions's declaration annexed to the Single European 
Act, this provides for a consultative committee, which allows for the rapid and 
efficient decision making required for harmonization measures taken under 
Article 100a. The consultative committee is set up in accordance with 
Article 2, procedure 1 of Council Decision 87/373/EEC^8^, which deals with the 
form and procedure of such committees. This Article also provides for the 
consultative committee to receive information and analysis on the operation of 
the scheme. 
Comments on Article 12 
This Article lists the elements to be specified in the implementing directives. 
(8) 0J No L 197, 18.7.1987, p. 33. 
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Comments on Article 13 
This provides for the existing framework Directive (79/530) to be repealed. 
This is delayed until after Member States have implemented the present 
Directive, as otherwise there is a danger that measures that had been taken to 
implement it could loose their legal force before they had been replaced. 
Comments pp Article 14 
This deals with the timetable for the introduction of this Directive. 
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Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
on the indication by labelling and standard product information 
of the consumption of energy and other resources 
of househoId app11ances 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in 
particular Article 100a thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission^1), 
In cooperation with the European Parliaments2^, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee^3), 
Whereas it is important to take measures to progressively achieve the internal 
market by 31 December 1992; 
Whereas certain Member States already have their own voluntary schemes for 
energy labelling and the provision of other energy consumption information for 
domestic appliances; whereas one Member State has formally proposed to 
introduce its own compulsory labelling scheme, and other Member States are 
considering its introduction; whereas the existence of a number of compulsory 
national schemes would create barriers to intra-Community trade; 
(1) OJ No 
(2) OJ No 
(3) OJ No 
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Whereas Article 130r of the Treaty requires a prudent and rational utilization 
of natural resources, whereas the rational use of energy is one of the 
principal means by which this objective can be respected and environmental 
poI lut ion reduced; 
Whereas the provision of accurate, relevant and comparable information on the 
specific energy consumption of household appliances may influence the public's 
choice in favour of those appliances which consume less energy, thus prompting 
manufacturers to take steps to reduce the consumption of the appliances which 
they manufacture; whereas it will also, indirectly, encourage the efficient use 
of these appliances; whereas in the absence of this information, the operation 
of the market for these appliances will fail to promote adequately the rational 
use of energy; 
Whereas this improvement in the operation of the market for these appliances 
will be best achieved if there is a uniform label for all appliances of each 
type, if potential customers receive supplementary standardized information 
relating to these appliances, and if those who do not see the appliance 
displayed, and so have no opportunity to see the label, are also supplied with 
this information; 
Whereas to this end the energy consumption of and other information concerning 
each type of appliance concerned must be measured in accordance with harmonized 
standards and methods and it must be possible to check the application of these 
standards at the marketing stage; 
Whereas Council Directive 79/530/EEC<4> ought to promote these aims for 
household appliances; whereas however, as only one implementing Directive for 
electric ovens has been passed, and as few Member States have introduced this 
label, it is now necessary to learn from the experience gained and strengthen 
the provision of that Directive; whereas Directive 79/530/EEC must therefore be 
replaced; whereas Council Directive 79/531/EEC(5) regarding energy labelling 
for ovens, will need to be revised and subsequently integrated into the present 
scheme; 
(4) OJ No L 145, 13.6.1979, p. 1. 
(5) OJ No L 145, 13.6.1979, p. 7. 
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Whereas completely voluntary schemes would lead to only some apr' cnces being 
labelled, or supplied with standard product information; wh.re:s there is a 
danger that this would induce confusion for some consumers; whereas the present 
scheme must therefore ensure universal energy labelling and universal provision 
of the standard product information fiches of the relevant appliances; 
Whereas household appliances use a wide variety of forms of energy, with 
electricity and gas being the most important; whereas the Directive must 
therefore in principle cover appliances using any form of energy; 
Whereas Council Directive 86/594/EEC of 1 December 1986<6) on airborne noise 
emitted by household appliances, provides for an indication of noise emission 
to be included in energy labels, where these exist; whereas provision must 
therefore be made for the incorporation, where appropriate, of other 
information and labelling covered by Community schemes-, 
Whereas only those types of appliances whose aggregate energy use is 
significant and where there is significant scope for increased efficiency need 
be included, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
1. The purpose of this Directive is the harmonization of national 
regulations on the publication, particularly by means of labelling and 
of product information, of information on energy consumption and 
information supplementary thereto for the following household 
appliances, even when these are sold for non-household uses: 
- refrigerators, freezers and their combinations 
- washing machines, driers and their combinations 
- dishwashers 
- ovens 
- water heaters 
- lighting appliances 
(6) OJ No L 344, 6.12.1986, p. 24. 
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Further household appliances may be added to the list in accordance 
with Article 10(b). 
2. This Directive shall not apply to the rating plate or its equivalent 
affixed for safety purposes to such appliances. 
3. For the purpose of this Directive "dealer" shall mean a retailer or 
other person who sells or displays household appliances to end users. 
Article 2 
1. The information relating to the consumption of energy, other essential 
resources and supplementary information of household appliances shall 
be drawn up on a comparative basis for the consumer's benefit in 
accordance with standards and methods laid down by Directives relating 
to each type of appliance adopted in implementation of this Directive. 
2. This information and the details of the attachment of the label shall 
be defined by directives relating to each type of appliance adopted in 
implementation of this Directive. 
3. The manufacturer shall establish the technical documentation described 
in paragraph (4) and it, or its authorized representative established 
in the Community, shall keep this documentation at the disposal of the 
national authorities for inspection purposes for a period of not less 
than 10 years after the last product has been manufactured. 
Where neither the manufacturer nor its authorized representative is 
established in the Community, the obligation to keep the technical 
documentation available shall be the responsibility of the person who 
places the product on the Community market. 
4. Technical documentation shall enable the accuracy of the label and the 
product information fiche to be assessed. It shall include: 
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a general description of the product, 
the results of design calculations carried out, where these are 
relevant, 
test reports, 
where values are derived from those obtained for similar models, 
the same information for these models. 
Artlcio 3 
1. All manufacturers or their representatives established within the 
Community placing the household appliances specified in the 
implementing directives on the market shall supply a label in 
accordance with this Directive. 
2. In addition to the labels, manufacturers or their authorized 
representatives established in the Community shall provide a fiche of 
product information. This fiche shall be contained in product 
brochures, or other literature where these are provided by the 
manufacturer, or its representative established in the Community, with 
the appllance. 
3. Retailers, or other interested parties, may use the information 
contained in labels and in the product information fiche to provide 
comparative tables giving the relative performance of various models. 
Article. 4 
In respect of labelling and product information the following provisions shall 
apply: 
(a) Whenever an appliance specified in an implementing directive is 
displayed, dealers shall attach an appropriate label, in the position 
specified in the relevant implementing directive, and in the relevant 
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language version. They shall be responsible to their customers and to 
the public authorities for the accuracy of the label and the product 
information fiche. However, the relevant manufacturer, and where 
applicable its authorized representative, shall indemnify dealers if 
the former supply incorrect labels or product information fiches, or 
otherwise fail to fulfil the requirements of this Directive, or of an 
implementing directive. 
(b) The manufacturer or its authorized representative shall supply free of 
charge to dealers specified in (a), the necessary labels. They shall 
also provide information as to where the label is to be attached, in 
accordance with this Directive and the relevant implementing directive. 
Manufacturers or their representatives established in the Community are 
free to choose their own system for delivery of labels. However, they 
must also provide, with each appliance, an address and telex or fax 
number to which a dealer can send a request for labels. They must then 
take all necessary steps to ensure that the necessary labels are 
delivered within 5 working days of their receipt of the request. They 
shall be primarily responsable for ensuring that the labels and product 
information they supply complies in all respects with the requirements 
of this Directive, and of the relevant implementing directive. 
ArtKle 5 
Where the relevant appliances are offered for sale by mail order, by catalogue, 
or by other means which imply that the potential customer cannot be expected to 
see the appliance displayed, the implementing directives may make provision to 
insure that the potential customer is provided with the information specified 
in the label, or the product information fiche. 
Article 6 
The implementing directives shall require that the label and the fiche contain 
information on airborne noise, where such information is produced pursuant to 
Directive 86/594. It may also require that other public information relating to 
the relevant appliance, which is produced pursuant to other Community 
legislation, shall be incorporated on the label, or in the fiche. 
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Article 7 
Every Member State shall take all necessary measures to ensure: 
a) that all manufacturers, their representatives and dealers 
established in their territory fulfil their obligations under 
this Direct ive; 
b) that any label relating to energy consumption which is displayed 
within its territory to potential purchasers and which is 
attached to an appliance, in relation to which an implementing 
directive is in force, complies in all respects with the 
requirements of this Directive and of the relevant implementing 
direct ives-, 
c) that the display in a similar manner of labels, marks, symbols or 
inscriptions relating to energy consumption which do not comply 
with the requirements of this Directive and of the relevant 
implementing directives is prohibited, if this is likely to 
mislead or confuse; 
d) that, where manufacturers or their representatives fail to fulfil 
their obligation under this Directive, or an implementing 
directive, that dealers are able to take appropriate legal action 
to enforce compliance, and to recover damages; 
e) that, where dealers fail to fulfil their obligations under this 
Directive, that actual or potential customers, or other 
interested parties, are able to take appropriate legal action to 
enforce compliance and to recover damages. 
Article 8 
Compliance with the national provisions bringing into force this 
Directive, and the implementing directives, shall be verified, by 
Member States, after the appliance has been placed on the market. 
Member States shall supply the Commission with any appropriate 
information and statistics on the operation of the system. 
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Article 9 
1. No Member State may either prohibit or restrict the placing on the 
market of the household appliances covered by an implementing directive 
on grounds relating to the indication by labelling of their energy 
consumption or other information compulsorily included on the label, 
where the provisions of this Directive and of the implementing 
directives are satisfied. 
2. Without prejudice to the outcome of any checks carried out by Member 
States once such appliances are displayed to potential purchasers, 
Member States shall deem the attaching of the relevant label to and the 
provision of the relevant fiche for the household appliances covered by 
an implementing directive and which have been placed on the market, or 
displayed, to comply with the provisions of this Directive and the 
implementing directives in respect of labelling, and of the product 
information fiche. 
Article 10 
The main measures relating to the establishment and operation of the scheme 
shall be adopted and adapted to technical progress in accordance with the 
procedure laid down in Article 11. These measures include: 
a) the implementing directives; 
b) the addition of further household appliances to the list in 
Article 1(1) where significant energy savings are likely to be 
achieved. 
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Article 11 
A consultative committee composed of the representatives of the Member States 
and chaired by the representative of the Commission is hereby set up to assist 
the Commission in taking the measures referred to in this Directive and, in 
particular, in Article 10. 
The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of 
the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft 
within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of 
the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. 
The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State 
shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. 
The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the 
committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has 
been taken into account. 
Article 12 
The implementing directives shall specify: 
a) the exact definition of the type of appliances to be included; 
b) the measurement standards and methods to be used in obtaining the 
information referred to in Article 2(2); 
c) the design and content of the label specified in Article 3(1); 
d) the location in which the label shall be fixed to the appliance. 
Where appropriate it may also make provisions for a label to be 
attached to or printed on the packaging; 
e) the content of the fiche of further information specified in 
Article 3(2). They may also specify its format, and other details 
as to how it shall be provided; 
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f) they may specify the information to be provided in the case of 
offers for sale covered by Article 5, and the manner in which it 
is to be provided. 
Article 13 
Directive 79/530/EEC is hereby repealed, with effect from the moment when all 
Member States bring into force the provisions necessary to comply with this 
Direct ive. 
Directive 79/531/EEC shall be considered as implementing this Directive for 
electric ovens; however, Member States may refrain from its compulsory 
implementation, until a date set in a revised implementing directive adopted 
pursuant to Article 10. 
Article 14 
1. Member States shall adopt the provisions necessary to comply with this 
Directive by 1 July 1992 and shall bring them into force by 1 January 
1993. They shall immediately notify the Commission of their adoption. 
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 any measures which 
they take in the field covered by this Directive. 
Article 1S 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(91) 285 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 10 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-321-EN-C 
ISBN 9?-77-74J95-9 
Office ft- .icialluv. ions Ox uxc European Comnr 'ies 
1^2985 Luxembourg