The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend existing legislation in Northern Ireland to incorporate the latest EU ecodesign requirements for energy-related products and energy labelling.
The changes, implemented under the Windsor Framework, update the lists of products and their associated regulations, ensuring compliance with EU law.
Specific products covered include tumble dryers, space heaters, and smartphones, with staggered implementation dates.
Arguments For
Implementation of the Windsor Framework: Aligns Northern Ireland's regulations with the Windsor Framework's provisions on EU law applicability, ensuring consistency and avoiding legal ambiguity.
Updated energy efficiency standards: Brings Northern Ireland's regulations up-to-date with the latest EU ecodesign requirements for various energy-related products, promoting energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Improved energy information for consumers: Provides consumers with clearer and more comprehensive information on energy consumption of appliances, helping them make informed purchasing decisions that reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint.
Legal certainty: Creates a stable regulatory environment for businesses in Northern Ireland, minimizing confusion and enabling them to comply with legally mandated requirements.
Arguments Against
Potential administrative burden: Implementing the changes may place additional administrative burdens on businesses, particularly smaller companies, requiring updates to product labelling and documentation.
Cost implications: The updated standards may necessitate the redesigning and re-manufacturing of some products to meet the new requirements, potentially increasing product costs for consumers.
Alternative approaches: While aligning with EU regulations is arguably beneficial, other regulatory approaches might be considered. Different methods of achieving the same goals could be explored to determine optimal impact.
Unintended consequences: Changes could inadvertently lead to unforeseen consequences, requiring adjustments or further regulations to address any issues that arise during implementation.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025. (2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), these Regulations come into force on the twenty-first day after the day on which they are made. (3) Regulation 2(2)(b) comes into force— (a) on 20th June 2025 in relation to the entry relating to smartphones, mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets into the table in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010; (b) on 1st July 2025 in relation to the entries relating to a household tumble dryer and a local space heater in the table in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010; (c) on 24th July 2026 in relation to the entry relating to a fan driven by a motor with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW in the table in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010. (4) Regulation 3(2)(b) comes into force— (a) on 20th June 2025 in relation to the entry relating to smartphones and slate tablets into the table in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Energy Information Regulations 2011; (b) on 1st July 2025 in relation to the entry relating to household tumble dryers in the table in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Energy Information Regulations 2011. (5) These Regulations extend to Northern Ireland only.
This section details the title, effective dates, and geographic scope of the regulations.
The regulations are titled "Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025." Most provisions come into force 21 days after their creation, with some specific exceptions.
The regulations apply only to Northern Ireland.
Specific dates are outlined for amendments to Schedules 1 of the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 and the Energy Information Regulations 2011.
- Amendment of the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 in relation to Northern Ireland (1) Schedule 1 to the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 (declaration of conformity) is amended as follows. (2) In paragraph 4— (a) after “in the table.” insert ““The measures listed in the table below refer to those measures as they have effect in EU law, as amended or replaced from time to time.”; (b) for the table, substitute— [Table of energy-related products and implementing measures]
This section amends Schedule 1 of the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations.
It adds a statement that the listed measures reflect EU law, as amended.
The existing table is replaced with an updated table listing various energy-related products (e.g., air conditioners, ovens, smartphones) and their corresponding EU implementing measures.
This ensures alignment with current EU law for declaration of conformity.
- Amendment of the Energy Information Regulations 2011 in relation to Northern Ireland (1) Schedule 1 to the Energy Information Regulations 2011 (EU measures) is amended as follows. (2) In paragraph 1— (a) after “in column 2 apply.” insert ““The measures listed in the table below refer to those measures as they have effect in EU law, as amended or replaced from time to time.”; (b) for the table substitute— [Table of products and EU energy labelling measures]
This section amends Schedule 1 of the 2011 Energy Information Regulations.
Similar to Section 2, it adds a clarification that the listed measures reflect the current state of EU law.
It then replaces the existing table listing products and EU energy labelling measures.
This ensures that the energy labelling information provided is consistent with current EU standards.
- Savings (1) In the table in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010— (a) the entries relating to a household tumble dryer and a local space heater continue to have effect until the end of 30th June 2025 despite the substitution of the table by regulation 2(2)(b) (b) the entry relating to a fan driven by a motor with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW continues to have effect until the end of 23rd July 2026 despite the substitution of the table by regulation 2(2)(b). (2) In the table in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Energy Information Regulations 2011 the entry relating to household tumble dryers continues to have effect until the end of 30th June 2025 despite the substitution of the table by regulation 3(2)(b).
This section establishes transitional provisions.
Specific entries for household tumble dryers, local space heaters, and high-power fans in the Ecodesign Regulations' Schedule 1 remain valid until specified dates, despite the table's overall replacement.
Similarly, the entry for household tumble dryers in the Energy Information Regulations' Schedule 1 also remains effect for a transitional period.