On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC
ITRE-PA-738514
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Maria Spyraki
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy's draft opinion responds to the proposed regulation on ecodesign requirements for sustainable products. It supports many elements of the Commission proposal and proposes 29 amendments.¶¶ The amendments add definitions for environmental footprint, carbon footprint, renewability and professional repairer, and require delegated acts to apply at the earliest 24 months after entry into force.¶¶¶ They require suppliers to give manufacturers information needed for the Digital Product Passport, and add renewability to the product parameters in Article 5 and Annex I.¶¶¶ They also require ecodesign requirements to be technically feasible, make product passport information clear and comparable, and protect trade secrets.¶¶¶ The opinion asks for sufficient transition times, consultation of the Ecodesign Forum, and digital labels where possible.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur generally supports many elements of the Commission proposal and proposes 29 amendments to clarify definitions, add renewability and professional repairer definitions, require supplier information, set a 24-month transition period, and protect trade secrets.¶¶
Key points
- The rapporteur generally supports many elements of the Commission proposal and suggests building on the experience of the ecodesign instrument.¶
- The regulation should enable a comprehensive and harmonised set of requirements for product sustainability, with industry making continual sustainability improvements.¶
- Harmonised methodologies should assess environmental impact, avoid duplication in existing databases, and identify appropriate variables because product parameters can be interdependent.¶
- Definitions should be clear and the list of parameters and criteria exhaustive, with overarching product sustainability criteria to minimise negative environmental and social impacts.¶
- Information disclosure responsibility along the supply chain should be shared: data should originate from suppliers, while manufacturers placing final products on the EU market must provide it.¶
- The Digital Product Passport should rely on existing databases, limit information to what adds value, and help consumers play a more active role.¶
- All requirements must have sufficient transition times, with a lead time between publication and application, particularly because harmonised standards need to be developed.¶
- Amendment 2 adds Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules or other scientifically validated category rules to the definition of environmental footprint.¶
- Amendments 3, 4 and 6 add definitions for carbon footprint, renewability, and renewability of materials and use or content of renewable raw materials.¶¶¶
- Amendment 5 adds a definition of professional repairer, and Amendments 12 and 13 include professional repairers among actors who may access or update product passport information.¶¶¶
- Amendment 7 requires delegated acts to apply at the earliest 24 months after entry into force, and Amendment 9 requires ecodesign requirements to be technically feasible with state-of-the-art technology.¶¶
- Amendments 11 and 21 require suppliers of articles, substances or mixtures to provide recipients with sufficient information, free of charge, for compliance with information and performance requirements.¶¶
Who is affected
- Manufacturers placing final products on the EU market, who must provide information and meet performance requirements.¶¶
- Suppliers of articles, substances or mixtures, who must provide information to manufacturers free of charge.¶
- Professional repairers, who gain a definition and access to product passport information.¶¶¶
- Consumers, who should receive clear information allowing comparisons among products.¶
- The Commission, which must consult the Ecodesign Forum and publish its minutes.¶¶