Appliances and products powered by electricity will have to conform to eco requirements stipulated by an EU directive expected to come into force within two to three years.

Stakeholders involved in the supply and retail chain and consumers were briefed on the developments relating to this eco-design directive during a meeting held by the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (Meusac) in conjunction with the Malta Business Bureau.

The directive, a recent addition to EU-wide initiatives for improved energy efficiency, is geared at ensuring products are, from the initial stage, designed to be efficient, Gabriella Pace, head of Meusac's information unit, said.

The initiative will impact a wide range of products, from common household goods to office equipment and street lighting.

Joseph Micallef, an engineer with the Malta Standards Authority's Regulatory Affairs Directorate, said manufacturers, importers of products originating in Third World countries and retailers will all have to carry their fair share of responsibilities.

While providing an overview of the European Commission proposals, he said minimum requirements for the placing of products on the market will have to be met.

The proposal will set the framework to implement measures relating to energy labelling and see the introduction of energy labels for the classification of television sets and water heaters.

The energy-efficient requirements for standby and off-mode electric power consumption will cover household appliances, hair-cutting instruments, scales, equipment that records or reproduces sounds and images, toys and electronic sports equipment.

The directive is being recast into a comprehensive Eco-design Framework Directive, having been originally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament in 2005.

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