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Many types of energy-related products are regulated to ensure they meet specific measures relating to their energy usage. This reduces their environmental impact, improves their energy efficiency, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions.

All products in scope must:

• have 91Ï㽶»ÆÉ«ÊÓƵing technical documentation (often referred to as a technical file) to demonstrate compliance
• have a Declaration of Conformity
• display the appropriate conformity marking for the GB and/or NI markets as appropriate

In GB and NI, the (as amended) are the underpinning legislation. However, there are differences in how they apply in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

What is covered?

The regulations cover the following energy related products:

• air conditioners and comfort fans
• air heating and cooling products
• circulators
• computers and computer servers
• dishwashers
• domestic ovens, hobs and range hoods
• electric motors and variable speed drives
• electronic displays including televisions
• external power supplies
• industrial fans
• lighting products
• local space heaters
• professional refrigerated storage cabinets, blast cabinets, condensing units and process chillers
• refrigerating appliances (including those with a direct sales function)
• servers and data storage products
• set-top boxes
• smart phones (mobile phones, tablets etc)
• solid fuel boilers
• solid fuel local space heaters
• space heaters
• standby and off mode, and networked standby, electric power consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment
• small, medium and large power transformers ()
• transformers
• household tumble driers
• vacuum cleaners
• ventilation units
• washing machines and washer-dryers
• water heaters, hot water storage tanks and packages of water heater and solar device
• water pumps
• welding equipment

(Products in scope may also be subject to the Energy information regulations.)

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The manufacturer, authorised representative or importer that first places a regulated product on the Great Britain or Northern Ireland market, or puts it into service, is responsible for compliance.

How to comply

A Declaration of Conformity must be completed, 91Ï㽶»ÆÉ«ÊÓƵed by technical documentation to demonstrate compliance. All documentation must be kept available for inspection for a period of at least 10 years from the date the product was last manufactured and be made available to Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) on request within 10 working days.

Manufacturers must also declare conformity with all relevant legislation by affixing:

• the UKCA mark, in the case of a product being placed on the market in GB, and/or
• the CE mark, in the case of a product being placed on the market in NI

Some products will also be subject to regulations that require mandatory third-party conformity assessment.

Read further information on conformity assessment and the appropriate markings.

Read further information on placing goods on the GB market.

Importers must:

• confirm manufacturers have met the regulations for a product they place on the GB and/or NI market
• retain a copy of the Declaration of Conformity
• ensure technical documentation is available to OPSS on request for 10 years after the last product is first placed on the market

If an importer places a product on the GB or NI market under its own name or trademark, it must comply with all manufacturer’s obligations.

Distributors

From 1 January 2021 some distributors are now classed as importers and will need to understand their obligations if their status has changed.

You’ll become an importer if:

• you’re the first one bringing goods from outside the United Kingdom and placing them on the market in GB - read guidance on how this change may affect you.
• you’re the one bringing goods for the first time into NI from either GB or another non-European Union country and placing them on the NI market - read guidance on how this change may affect you.

If a business modifies a product in a way that might affect the compliance of that product, it must comply with all manufacturer’s obligations.

Monitoring and enforcement

The OPSS is the appointed Market Surveillance Authority for Ecodesign Regulations in GB and NI.

Many types of energy-related products are regulated to ensure that clear and consistent information on their energy usage is readily available. This helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions and encourages competition between manufacturers in relation to improving energy efficiency.

All products in scope must:

• be supplied with an accurate printed energy label
• display an energy label at the point of sale if in a shop or on a website
• have a reference to the energy efficiency class in visual advertisements
• be accompanied by a product information sheet (also known as a product fiche): a table of information giving specified performance data
• be 91Ï㽶»ÆÉ«ÊÓƵed by technical documentation allowing the accuracy of the label and fiche to be assessed

In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the are the underpinning legislation. However, there are differences in how they apply in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as explained in how to comply with energy labelling requirements.

What is covered?

The regulations cover the following energy-related products:

• air conditioners and comfort fans
• dishwashers
• domestic ovens, hobs and range hoods
• electronic displays including televisions
• lighting products
• local space heaters
• professional refrigerated storage cabinets, blast cabinets, condensing units and process chillers
• refrigerating appliances
• refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function
• smart phones (mobile phones, tablets etc)
• solid fuel boilers
• solid fuel local space heaters
• space heaters
• household tumble driers
• ventilation units
• washing machines and washer-dryers
• water heaters, hot water storage tanks and packages of water heater and solar device

(Products in scope may also be subject to the Ecodesign regulations.)

They do not apply to:

• second-hand products
• means of transport

The supplier (manufacturer, authorised representative or importer) that first places a regulated product on the Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or Northern Ireland market, or puts it into service, is responsible for its compliance. This extends to any means of online selling, distance selling, hire and hire purchase.

The dealer (retailer) also has obligations and is required to clearly display an energy label when selling products. This includes in store and via distance selling methods such as internet sales and catalogues.

How to comply

Suppliers must produce energy labels and fiches in accordance with the regulations, and the 91Ï㽶»ÆÉ«ÊÓƵing technical documentation, allowing their accuracy to be assessed.

They must also:

• provide labels to dealers promptly and for free
• include the product information sheet (also known as a product fiche) with each product
• make the technical documentation available to Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) if requested and retain it for 15 years after the manufacturing of the product has stopped

Energy labels for certain products are being gradually re-scaled to display A – G energy rating classes instead of A+++ – G energy rating classes. The first phase of re-scaling took place in March 2021.

The new re-scaled energy label has been introduced for light sources from 1 October 2021. For light sources which will be placed on the market from 1 October 2021, suppliers will be required to print rescaled labels on to the packaging. For light sources placed on the market before 1 October 2021, upon request by dealers, suppliers must provide rescaled energy labels which are intended to replace existing labels to dealers. For existing printed labels this would be in the form of a printed sticker of a size which permits it to cover existing labels.

No label, mark, symbol, or inscription can be shown that could mislead consumers about the energy efficiency of a product.

For all energy labels, dealers must display the labels so that they are clearly visible, attaching them to the product where appropriate, and make the fiche available to consumers. For any means of distance selling, the information on the label and fiche must be provided to consumers before they buy the product.

New rules for dealers from 1 March 2021 (and 1 October 2021 for light sources)

There are new requirements on dealers when it comes to displaying the new, re-scaled energy labels for certain products. The products affected by these changes are:

• electronic displays
• dishwashers
• washer-dryers
• washing machines
• refrigeration appliances
• light sources

Dealers had until 18 March 2021 to replace old labels on display with rescaled labels for these products except light sources.

For light sources placed on the market before 1 October 2021 which bear the old energy label, dealers had until 1 April 2023 to replace the old labels on display with rescaled labels in such a way as to cover the existing label, including when the label is printed on or attached to the packaging. For this purpose, dealers can request rescaled labels from suppliers in the form of a printed sticker.

Further requirements:

• If, at the point of sale, a product model is only displayed in the packaging (not taken out of the packaging for display) the dealer must ensure visibility of the label for the consumer.
• In visual advertisements, technical promotional material and distance selling (see below for internet selling):
  • the full energy label does not have to be displayed alongside the product, but an arrow with the energy efficiency class and the range of energy efficiency classes must be provided
  • the dealer must provide a copy of the label or the product information sheet on a publicly accessible website and must provide paper copies on request
• In the case of internet selling:
  • an arrow with the energy efficiency class and the range of energy efficiency classes must be provided alongside the product, and this must link to the full energy label for the product
  • the dealer must make the product information sheet available alongside the product or by linking to it on a publicly accessible website

Requirements for all energy labels

Suppliers must provide the energy efficiency class alongside any advertisement or technical promotion.

The energy label is common across the United Kingdom, with variations according to GB or NI placement on market, and must include:

• the model number of the product and the suppliers name or trademark
• the amount of energy it uses according to the product specific regulations
• specific data in accordance with the applicable product regulation, in pictogram format
• its energy efficiency class, from best to worst, depending on the relevant scale for the product, with corresponding colour-coded arrows

From 1 January 2021 the energy label, for products placed on the GB market, must also include:

• the UK Flag
• English language text
• a QR code, where applicable, which must link to the required product information on a publicly accessible website

GB energy labels can be accessed using the service. To help you comply with the regulations there is a UK Energy Label Generator. This covers all the products listed under the ‘What is Covered’ section of which products need an energy label.

From 1 January 2021, the energy label, for products placed on the NI market, must include:

• the European Union flag
• a QR code where applicable, which must link to the required product information on the .

Suppliers placing products on the NI market can create their own energy labels using the EPREL database.

Monitoring and enforcement

OPSS is the appointed Market Surveillance Authority in GB and NI for suppliers.

Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the regulations in relation to dealers.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is responsible for enforcing the marketing of products with energy efficiency information.