Building & Design

UK Government appoints energy label enforcers

The UK Government has appointed the country’s national measurements organisation, the National Measurement Office (NMO), to enforce the EU’s energy efficiency standards and labels.

The NMO will act as the market surveillance authority (MSA) for the EU’s Energy Using Products and Energy Labelling Framework Directives ensuring that manufacturer’s product claims and minimum energy standards are being met.

The EU’s energy standards and labelling requirements, which are starting to come into force, aim to cover a wide range of household electrical appliances. TVs, washing machines and fridges are already covered and more are set to follow.

The MSA has to ensure that standards are being complied with to create a level playing field for manufacturers and provide certainty and reassurance for consumers.

“It is vital we ensure our energy using products are using less energy and are adhering to the standards we are setting to reduce emissions and reduce energy bills for everyone who buys them,” says Environment Minister, Dan Norris.

Peter Mason, the chief executive of the NMO, says the organisation is well placed to take on the responsibility.

“This latest expansion of our remit to include energy conservation fits well with our already established enforcement delivery in environmental protection,” he says.

For further information:
www.defra.gov.uk/
www.nmo.bis.gov.uk/
ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/ecodesign/eco_design_en.htm

26 October 2009

Back