Meer documentenQuestions and answers on the simplification of energy and tyre labelling
How will European consumers benefit from simplified rules on energy and tyre labelling?
The EU energy and tyre labelling rules are a mature and long-standing policy framework that has its origins in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. It has been comprehensively revised at regular intervals, last time in 2017. The implementation experience since then, in particular with the introduction of the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) in 2019, has revealed new opportunities to make the rules easier for businesses to follow and easier for authorities to enforce. This proposal therefore has two main aims: on the one hand, to make the rules simpler for suppliers and sellers; and on the other hand, to ensure that more consumers see the label where and when it is useful for their purchasing decisions. This can be achieved by improving compliance through clearer legal requirements and better use of digital tools, in line with the Commission Work Programme for 2026.
The main benefit for consumers will remain intact: energy labels and other key product information will still have to be shown at the point of sale, both in shops and online. In future, however, the way labels are provided could be better adapted to different types of products and sales methods. The rules will hence be simplified without lowering the standards or reducing the benefits for consumers. For example, for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function (for instance, vending machines or supermarket cabinets), the ongoing evaluation of the current rules suggests that a printed label may be of limited relevance given how such products are typically sold from businesses to businesses and not involving physical retail shops.
The simplified rules would take these different sales situations into account and make clearer who is responsible at each stage between the manufacturer and the final customer. This would help ensure that consumers always see the energy label information when they need it most to make an informed choice. Consumers across the EU would also benefit from measures designed to make market checks and enforcement more effective: the better the rules are applied, the more consumers will actually see the label before making purchasing decisions. The evidence available shows that the EU energy label has a positive effect both on the average efficiency of the products purchased, and also, over time, on the efficiency of the products developed and offered in the market by suppliers.
What is the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) and how can it help European consumers in their choices? What will change with the simplification?
The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) currently contains over two million product models that are on sale in the EU, ranging from white goods (washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, freezers, tumble dryers…) to electronics and tyres. For all of these, EPREL facilitates comparisons between different product models, enabling consumers, procurers and businesses to make informed choices. EPREL hosts additional parameters and information not featuring on the label, such as information on the supplier guarantee, for repair or supplier contacts. Customers can access EPREL by scanning the QR code on an energy label or by going directly on the website. Visitors can also report an issue with label compliance directly in the database, for the authority or the supplier to act. EPREL also provides explanations on what the icons on the different labels stand for.
The implementation reports (on tyres and on energy labelling) and studies show that consumers, business and procurers are not yet fully aware of EPREL: the database is far less known than decades-old energy label itself to electronics and tyres. For all of these, EPREL facilitates comparisons between different product models, enabling consumers, procurers and businesses to make informed choices. EPREL hosts additional parameters and information not featuring on the label, such as information on the supplier guarantee, for repair or supplier contacts. Customers can access EPREL by scanning the QR code on an energy label or by going directly on the website. Visitors can also report an issue with label compliance directly in the database, for the authority or the supplier to act. EPREL also provides explanations on what the icons on the different labels stand for.
With the proposed simplification, EPREL will be more frequently used, because the QR code would be more prominent and communicated in supply chains. In addition, the Commission might develop further EPREL features to show or find warnings for products which Market Surveillance Authority (MSAs) have found non-compliant.
How will these simplified rules help companies?
The proposal is expected to reduce administrative costs by up to €125 million over 10 years, mainly for suppliers of energy-related products, but also for dealers. Companies would benefit in several ways: suppliers could cut costs linked to delivering printed labels, depending on the rules for each product group, and both suppliers and dealers would save time and effort whenever labels are rescaled and updated.
National market surveillance authorities are also expected to save around €3.7 million each year, as better compliance data in EPREL would make checks quicker and more efficient. Further savings could come from avoiding the need for companies to enter the same information twice. If data already submitted to EPREL does not have to be entered again into the future digital product passport registry, this could generate a one-off saving of up to €66 million.
In addition, removing the requirement for vehicle dealers to display tyre labels is expected to save €40 million per year, mainly by reducing unnecessary administrative work. Tyre efficiency is reflected in the information on emission or vehicle autonomy provided with a new car.
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