Explanatory note

These Regulations implement European Parliament and Council Directive 96/57/EC on energy efficiency requirements for the household electric refrigerators, freezers and their combinations defined in regulation 3. The Directive specifies minimum standards of energy efficiency (in terms of electricity consumption) which are to be met by such appliances which are placed on the Community market.

Regulation 4 prohibits the placing on the Community market of new appliances which exceed the maximum allowable electricity consumption values laid down in Schedule 1; and makes provision for the affixing of the EC mark illustrated in Schedule 2.

Regulation 5 lays down the rules relating to the compulsory EC declaration of conformity of an appliance. Regulation 6 requires suppliers to establish and maintain technical documentation to enable assessment of whether the EC mark has been properly affixed to an appliance. Regulation 7 prohibits the affixing to an appliance of misleading markings.

Under regulation 8, manufacturers are obliged to bring non-conforming appliances on the market into conformity and to withdraw them from the market as soon as practicable. Regulation 9 obliges manufacturers to take all necessary steps to achieve a manufacturing process which ensures that appliances comply with their technical documentation and with the requirements of the Regulations.

Regulation 10 and Schedule 3 create criminal offences and contain other provisions on enforcement.

A Compliance Cost Assessment, estimating the financial impact of the Regulations on suppliers, dealers and wholesalers of household refrigerators etc. covered by the scheme, can be obtained from: Energy, Environment and Waste Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 3DE.