EU ministers have agreed a Council negotiating position on new rules to simplify energy and tyre labelling across the bloc.
The proposed changes would allow more flexibility in how energy labels are provided with products, while keeping the option for customers to obtain printed labels on request, the Council of the EU announced on Friday.
The Council position also backs a “once-only” approach for companies using the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) — an EU database used by authorities to check product information — meaning businesses would not have to submit the same data twice.
Under the Council’s mandate, the rules would strengthen accountability for non-EU manufacturers and their authorised representatives, and clarify responsibilities along the supply chain.
A separate set of changes would align procedures for updating tyre-label parameters with those used for energy labels, and require tyre test reports to be uploaded to the compliance section of EPREL, which is accessible only to market surveillance authorities.
Changes to label “rescaling” timelines
The Council position sets new timelines for “rescaling” — when a product category moves to a redesigned EU energy label such as the A-to-G scale used to help shoppers compare efficiency.
It said products could continue to be sold with the old label for four months after the rescaling date.
A separate 12-month period would apply for products no longer placed on the market after the rescaling date, or where the supplier ceases activity, with possible extensions for certain product groups to avoid functional products being discarded.
On tyre labelling, the Council text would consolidate suppliers’ and distributors’ obligations on how key information is presented in advertising, catalogues, technical promotional material, distance selling — including online — and on invoices and delivery notes.
The Council also specified conditions for the European Commission to update or rescale parts of the tyre label covering fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise, including requirements for an impact assessment and stakeholder consultation.
The regulation would enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s official journal, with a 12-month delay for applying several provisions to give businesses time to adapt.
Negotiations with the European Parliament are expected once it has agreed its own position, the Council of the EU said.
