Guidance

Regulations: ecodesign of energy-consuming products

Guidance for manufacturers, their authorised representatives and importers.

From:
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Office for Product Safety and Standards
Published
4 April 2014
Last updated
1 January 2021 — See all updates

From 1 January 2021, there are some differences in the rules for placing energy-related products on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and placing energy-related products on the market in Northern Ireland. Those differences are explained on this page. You can also:

Find out about placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain.

Find out about placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland.

Find out about placing manufactured goods on the market in the EU.

Overview

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 supporting 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 Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 (as amended) are the underpinning legislation. However, there are differences in how they apply in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as explained below.

What is covered

The regulations cover the following energy related products:

  • circulators
  • computers
  • dishwashers
  • domestic ovens, hobs and range hoods
  • electric motors and variable speed drives
  • electronic displays
  • external power supplies
  • fans
  • heating and cooling appliances
  • light sources and control gear
  • refrigerated storage cabinets for professional use
  • refrigerating appliances
  • refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function
  • servers and data storage products
  • set-top boxes
  • standby and off mode
  • transformers (regulatory relief guidance for power transformers)
  • tumble driers
  • vacuum cleaners
  • ventilation
  • washing machines and washer-dryers
  • water pumps
  • welding equipment

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

Extent of obligation

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, supported 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 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 the latest information on UKCA and CE marking

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 will become importers and will need to understand their obligations if their status has changed. You’ll become an importer if:

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.

The role of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)

OPSS is the appointed Market Surveillance Authority for Ecodesign Regulations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Where to find out more

If placing products on the market or making products available on the market in Great Britain:

If placing products on the market or making products available on the market in Northern Ireland:

Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about compliance or wish to contact us regarding suspected non-compliance we recommend that you complete the online enquiry form, choose the relevant legislation and follow the on screen instructions.

Alternatively you can contact our helpdesk on 0121 345 1201.

Or in writing to:

Office for Product Safety and Standards
4th Floor Cannon House
18 The Priory Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6BS
United Kingdom

Subscribe to our free email alert service to keep up to date on the latest developments concerning the legislation that OPSS enforces.

Published 4 April 2014
Last updated 1 January 2021 + show all updates

  1. Updated at the end of the transition period to reflect amendments to the regulations and the different rules for placing energy-related products on the market in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  2. EU Exit Update

  3. Includes a link to the Energy-using Products technical notice which provide information to allow businesses and citizens to understand what they need to do in the unlikely event of the UK exiting the EU in a ‘no deal’ scenario.

  4. Page content revised.

  5. First published.

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