COMMISSION DIRECTIVE  95/12/EC
of 23 May 1995
implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of  household washing machines
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 under Directive 92/75/EEC the Commission is to adopt an implementing directive in respect  of household appliances including washing machines;
Whereas electricity use by washing machines 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 Directive 94/10/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (3), and on the basis of  those general guidelines;
Whereas the measures set out in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the committee  set up under Article 10 of Directive 92/75/EEC,
1. This Directive shall apply to electric mains operated household  washing machines, excluding:
- machines with no spin capability,
- machines with separate washing and spin drying vessels (such as twin tubs), and
- 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 where that information is  required under Article 3 of Council Directive 86/594/EEC (1). This information, where required,  shall be measured in accordance with Directive 83/189/EEC.
4. 'Dealer', 'supplier', 'information sheet', 'other essential resources' and 'supplementary  information' shall have the meanings set out in Article 1 (4) of Directive 92/75/EEC.
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 appliance, 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 under test procedures of the harmonized  standards referred to in Article 1 (2),
- 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 provided 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, its washing performance class, and its drying  efficiency class, as specified in the label and the fiche, shall be as specified in Annex IV.
Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that all suppliers and  dealers established in their territory fulfil their obligations under this Directive.
1. Member States shall adopt and publish the laws, regulations and administrative  provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 March 1996. They shall immediately inform  the Commission thereof. They shall apply those provisions from 1 April 1996.
However, Member States shall allow, until 30 September 1996:
- the placing on the market, the commercialization and/or the display of products,
- the distribution of the printed communications referred to in Article 2 (4) which do not conform  to 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.
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the  Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.