Policy Updates

<p>Eurostat, the statistical office for the EU, produces European statistics in partnership with National Statistical Institutes and other national authorities in the EU Member States. Recently, statistics accounting for impact of the COVID-19 outbreak have been added.</p>

<p>On a monthly basis, the Eurovent Team compiles a global overview of the latest developments concerning new standardisation activities and technical regulations of relevance for the HVACR industry. Our Notifications allow members to be prepared for developments that can have an impact on them and their products.</p>

<p>The first Blue Guide was issued in 2000. It provides for a better understanding of EU product rules and aims to support a uniform and coherent application across different sectors and throughout the single market. Even though the Blue Guide is a non-binding document, it is very often referred to for guidance by Member States, the Commission and stakeholders. The update takes into account the legislative developments since its 2016 edition.</p>

<p>The UK Department for International Trade has issued anew a message regarding the new UK import tariffs and trading rules, which will take effect in January 2021. The new UK Global Tariff will replace the EU’s Common External Tariff. These tariffs will be applied if there is no free trade agreement between the UK and the EU by 31 December.</p>

<p>Ms Charlotte van de Water, Expert Energy & Climate for Buildings in Eurovent Belgian Member Association Agoria, regularly updates the members of Agoria explaining the links between the European and national policies. Her most recent update looks at how European Climate Policy Framework and budgets are now impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The members are strongly recommended to read this introduction as it provides for a background to the ongoing evolutions at European level, which are often forgotten when dealing with specific directives, regulations or implementing and delegated acts.</p>

<p>The UK is looking how to integrate, and ambitiously improve the requirements relating to Ecodesign and Energy Labelling. Consultations run until 4 September. The UK has also updated its information campaign relating to the end of the transition period, including information for businesses on importing and exporting.</p>

<p>The European Commission has just circulated the draft minutes of the meeting on reparability (5 July 2019) and on the omnibus amendments (4 June 2020). Elements of the former meetings appear in the study for the Working Plan 2020-2024. The Eurovent Product Group ‘Commercial refrigeration Equipment’ (PG-RDC) has already commented on the latter one.</p>

<p>The Filtration and Separation Coalition has been following the discussions and consultations on these chemicals over the past years. They have highlighted their concern in the attached document GEN – 1144.01. To Eurovent it makes sense to consider the possible consequences.</p>

<p>In cooperation with Orgalim, the Eurovent Team regularly provides you with an in-depth overview on all European legislative developments of relevance for the HVACR sector. The Bulletin provides for a hands-on compendium allowing the industry to assess the status quo and expected future developments. In addition to recent sector specific issues, our Team has summarised some of the key takeaways within this article.</p>

<p>The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have developed a 50-page report titled ‘Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report: Benefits of cooling efficiency and the Kigali Amendment’. The report highlights the growth of cooling appliances in numbers, addresses the COVID-19 estimated impacts and outlines six important opportunities identified under the K-CEP programme.</p>

<p>The European Commission has issued a revised readiness notice on F-Gases. Businesses are strongly advised to double-check their readiness with regards to quota allocations, reporting obligations, verification, representatives, and certified persons under the F-Gas Regulation.</p>

<p>The European Commission has issued a communication on readiness at the end of the transition period between the EU and the UK. Manufacturers are strongly advised to double-check their readiness, notably with regards to customs, VAT, product requirements and conformity marking.</p>