The Energy using Products (EuP) Directive

An Overview
The Energy using Products (EuP) Directive became law in the European Union on the 11th of August 2005. Member States must transpose this Directive into national law within 2 years. It promises to have an even more profound effect on industry than the RoHS Directive.

The objective of the EuP Directive is to bring about improvements in energy efficiency of energy-using products throughout their lifecycle. Its focus is on the design phase since it considered that this the determining stage affecting the resources used in a product.

The Directive does not apply to means of transport (planes, cars etc.) but, apart from this, the scope is deliberately broad, covering, in principle, any product which when in use depends on, generates, transfers or measures energy (electricity, fossil fuel or renewable). Significantly, the Directive also covers parts, which are intended to be used in energy using products.

An implementing measure will set out "eco-design" requirements "with the aim of ensuring free movement of those goods within the internal market" (i.e. the legislation shall be essentially the same in all EU States as with RoHS).

These requirements will be specific, quantified and measurable relating to a particular environmental aspect of a product - for example, the amount of energy it consumes during its working life.