The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is responsible for the development and implementation of UK Government policy on sustainable energy using products. The UK contributes to the development of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and efficiency labeling programs through the European Commission.
Defra is responsible for the implementation of EU Regulation into UK law and for negotiating standards with the European Commission and other Member States.
The National Measurement Office is the UK market surveillance authority responsible for enforcing the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations.
Local Trading Standards Officers are responsible for monitoring and enforcing the retailer requirements of the energy labeling regulations (in coordination with the National Measurement Office).
The Advertising Standards Agency is responsible for monitoring advertisements to ensure they comply with the Energy Labelling Regulations (in coordination with the National Measurement Office.
Legislative S&L History
Energy using products policy in the UK is driven by two key pieces of European legislation, the Ecodesign of Energy Related Products Framework Directive and the Energy Labeling Framework Directive. These are single market legislation and so are common to the whole of the EU. These are implemented through individual product specific regulations that set out the minimum standards, for energy efficiency and other environmental impacts, and for energy labels. By 2012-13 these product regulations will cover all significant domestic energy using products, most commercial products and some industrial products. Testing standards are also agreed at a European level.
The UK also takes national level action to monitor and enforce the EU legislation as well as develop voluntary standards and supply chain strategies. For example, the UK government has worked with the Energy Saving Trust, retailers and industry to develop Voluntary Retailer Initiatives for TVs and light bulbs. Defra has also engaged with stakeholders to develop pilot roadmaps to improve voluntary sustainability across the life cycles of a range of important product sectors including appliances, clothing, food and drink, passenger transport, and textiles. The UK’s product sustainability roadmaps aim to identify the impacts that occur across the life cycle of each product; identify existing actions being taken to address those impacts; and develop and implement voluntary action plans to address any gaps.
S&L Regulatory Process
As a Member State of the European Union, the UK follows the EU regulatory process. Read more.
Related Website Links
The Energy Using Products Evidence Base, formally known as the Market Transformation Program (MTP), is managed by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) through a consortium of contractors and provides technical support to UK Government Policy on sustainable energy using products.
The National Measurement Office is responsible for enforcing the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations.
The Energy Saving Trust is a not-for-profit organization that provides free and impartial advice to households and businesses on how to save energy. Energy Saving Trust Recommended is a product certification and labelling scheme that highlights products that are among the most energy efficient on the market and will help consumers to save energy in their homes and offices.
The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit organization that provides specialist support to help businesses and the public sector boost business returns by cutting carbon emissions, saving energy and commercializing low carbon technologies.