Energy Label Directives

HL Deb 10 May 2002 vol 634 cc205-6WA

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How supplier compliance under the European Union energy label directives is monitored. [HL4165]

Lord Whitty

Responsibility for ensuring that suppliers established in the UK fulfil their obligations under the European Union energy label directives rests with the UK enforcement authorities: in England and Wales and Scotland, a local weights and measures authority within the meaning of Section 69 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 (local weights and measures authorities); and in Northern Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

However, the Market Transformation Programme, which is jointly sponsored by Defra and the DTI, has also carried out a number of spot checks on domestic appliances. This is to provide information relating to the operation and effectiveness of the UK energy labelling regulations and to inform discussions on related policy issues. The enforcement authorities are aware of the Defra monitoring activity and have access to the individual results. We are discussing the individual results, analysis and issues arising with suppliers of the tested products and with AMDEA (the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances) with the intention that the Government will routinely place such information in the public domain.