Policy Updates

<p>The final ODELIA study report on the Outdoor Noise Directive scope and noise limits has been published. It will appear on the Commission’s website in due course.</p>

<p>On 8 December 2015 the Regulatory Committee adopted the draft regulation. The Member States introduced a number of (in their view minor, e.g. on NOx) changes to the text of the draft.</p>

<p>The European Parliament has adopted report on the Gas Appliances Regulation by MEP Catherine Stihler. The move towards Regulations rather than Directives when dealing with products and provides additional supports for the Single Market.</p>

<p>Call for action concerning SASO XXXX: 2016 – Large Capacity Air Conditioners – Performance Requirements and Methods of Testing Deadline: Action required before 12 February 2016!</p>

<p>The application of the 2015/1535/EU (previously Directive 98/34/EC Directive) has also been extended to new standardisation work undertaken by National Standard Bodies (AENOR, AFNOR, DIN, UNI…) at national level. These notifications are registered centrally by the CEN Management Centre and a "Monthly Notifications Register" is circulated in English to the CEN Members and the European Commission. The National Standard Body generally provides the relevant associations with a copy of these updates.</p>

<p>In January 2015 the European Commission publihsed its guidelines accompanying the Delegated Regulations 811/2013, 812/2013, 813/2013 and 814/2013 with regard to ecodesign and energy labelling of space heaters, water heaters, hot storage tanks and packages of water heater and solar device. A revised version was made available at the end of September to deal with FAQ dealing with boilers put on the market without a burner. No changes are made in the guidelines for the other products covered by these regulations.</p>

<p>On Friday 18 December 2015 DG Energy has launched the Commission Inter Service Consultations (ISC) on the two draft regulations that would amend the use of tolerances in the verification procedures of ecodesign and energy labelling implementing measures.</p>

<p>The Commission has published its guidelines accompanying the Delegated Regulations 811/2013, 812/2013, 813/2013 and 814/2013 with regard to ecodesign and energy labelling of space heaters, water heaters, hot storage tanks and packages of water heater and solar device.</p>

<p>With GEN - 561.00 we informed you about the upcoming stakeholder meeting on 10 March 2015.</p>

<p>We draw the attention of the members to this 10 page update by the European Commission on the ecodesign measures.</p>

<p>Although ventilation and airtightness are covered in most countries by various regulations focused on energy performance and/or indoor air quality, the effectiveness of these regulations is often called into question. A number of studies have shown significant deviations between assumed and actual characteristics of the building or equipment, possibly resulting in non-compliance to the regulation and/or degraded performance.</p>

<p>The Joint Research Center (JRC) is organising this meeting on 23-24 February 2015 in Brussels (GEN 567.01). A technical working group which JRC is now setting up is intent on providing input on the development of Best Environmental Management Practices (BEMP) for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE – note this encompass more equipment than pure EEE for example display cabinets, cooling towers…) manufacturing. The resulting document will specify best environmental practices which can be implemented by companies to minimise the environmental impact of electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing and WEEE processing. This work is part of a project that supports the development of sectorial reference documents (SRD) according to art. 46 (1) of the EMAS Regulation.</p>