Product Groups Covered

These pages give details on the advancement of the Ecodesign Policy (and where applicable Energy Labelling Policy) for specific product groups.

The usual process for a product group starts with the preparatory study (12 to 18 months), out of which the European Commission extracts first working documents. These are discussed in a Consultation Forum meeting. Then a social and economic Impact Assessment study is performed. The finalised draft is proposed to the 27 Member States, who vote on the implementing measure in a Regulatory Committee. After the vote, the European Parliament has three months to exert a "right of scrutiny".

During all these stages, the measures may be amended (improved or watered-down). The outcome is as much political as technical. We have learned from experience that the content of the measures can sometimes be modified at the last minute.

On the left menu you can access four sections:
- Official material related to preparatory studies. These pages show the advancement of the different studies prepared by consultants for the European Commission. Environmental NGOs have technical experts monitoring several of them.
- Regulations that have been passed or are in the process. You may download Working Documents from the European Commission (discussed by stakeholders in Consultation Forum meetings) and draft legal texts.
- Position papers from Environmental NGOs relating to all these regulations and product groups. These positions were prepared by ECOS and defended during Consultation Forum meetings.
- A section on the "EuP Working Plan", which deals with the products to be covered in the future by Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures.

On the right column, you may find an overview with quick access links. If you click on one of these, you will directly access to the most recent status page or relevant document for the product group.