Policy Updates

<p>The Commission has sent out the invitations and supporting documents for the Consultation Forum meetings that were originally planned for July. They will now take place just after the summer holidays: 9 September (Air conditioners and comfort fans) and 10 September (Local space heaters including the combined labelling with air conditioners).</p>

<p>On behalf of the European Commission (DG CLIMA), Öko-Recherche is working on a series of analysis evaluating the implementation of the F-gas Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 since 2015. This includes, among others, monitoring of the refrigerant prices. The Q1/2019 report has been recently shared with Eurovent.</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 JTC study on repairability of initially three consumer products; laptops, vacuum cleaners, and washing machines, is deemed enough to support continuation along these lines and would be complemented with investigations into durability, upgradability, recycling, and other aspects of the circular economy. In first instance, consumer products (for example smart phones) would be further investigated. However, with time these developments are likely to extend to other products. Industry should timely take note of the standards that are developed to deal with repairability.</p>

<p>Pre-charged equipment exported outside the European Union is included in the quota system set up by F-Gas Regulation 2014/517. A consequence is that the quota available in Europe is reduced by those exported. The Commissioner Cañete had reiterated in April that the exemption in article 15 applies to bulk gases only. This has been reconfirmed on 20 June in the answer to the question asked by the Member of Parliament (MEP) Tamburrano on 21 March.</p>

<p>The EEPLIANT project, involving 20 Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs), has received 6.800.000 EUR funding for the 3rd phase, of which 1.500.000 EUR for testing. Six additional products will be investigated, including air conditioners and comfort fans, ventilation units, water and local space heaters. </p>

<p>This Regulation applies to all products subject to EU harmonised Regulations, e.g. Ecodesign implementing Regulations and provides for an enforcement of market surveillance activities, including the set-up of the UPCN. Within the Regulation, Article 9 opens the possibility for Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) and organisations representing economic operators (for example Eurovent) to agree to carry out joint activities in view of promoting compliance, identifying non-compliance and raising awareness about EU harmonised legislation.</p>

<p>Recommendation on building modernisation has been published by the European Commission. This Recommendation aims to provide a uniform understanding of the EPBD. It includes an extension and clarification of the definition of a ‘technical building system’ and inspections. Of note is the guidance related to the Primary Energy Factor.</p>

<p>The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2018/1844 requires the Commission to conclude a feasibility study, clarifying the possibilities and timeline to introduce the inspection of stand-alone ventilation systems and an optional building renovation passport before 2020. </p>

<p>The Eurovent Team is listening to your feedback and constantly working to further improve the Eurovent website. The latest, recently launched feature allows website visitors to filter our Document Web Shop by language to not miss any important documents released in their native language.</p>

<p>About fifty persons attended the first stakeholder meeting to prepare the review of the Ventilation Units Regulations. The expectation is that the review process will be finalised in the last quarter of 2020. In the margin of the meeting, the Commission remarked that no one referred to the issue of circular economy.</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>