Programme Manager, Market Surveillance, SEAI.
All lighting sold in Ireland must meet standards set out in EU regulations relating to ecodesign and energy labelling. These are in place to ensure that the products concerned meet minimum levels of energy efficiency and certain other parameters which impact the environment. They must also provide clear and accurate information in that regard.
The EU Ecodesign Directive and EU Energy Labelling Regulations are important policy tools contributing over 40% of the total energy savings required tomeet 2020 EU energy efficiency targets.
How are products monitored?
The success of these regulations is dependent in part on compliance. The EU standards system relies on a European network of market surveillance organisations to identify and address non-compliance through engaging with the companies concerned, and ensuring that products are removed from the market if no-compliance cannot be resolved.
Non-compliant products can be harmful to consumers and the environment, in particular by using more energy than is allowed under the regulations or claimed by manufacturers. They might also cause problems for specifiers and installers who have designed and installed a product appropriately, only to have the customer dissatisfied with the performance of the product. Dependent on the type of product, the regulations also cover a wide range of other performance characteristics, including NOx and particulate matter emissions.
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