Have you ever wondered what’s really behind that colourful label displayed on a wide range of household products like refrigerators, washing machines, or electronic displays, with its familiar A-to-G scale? That familiar label is more than just a visual guide – it is a legally binding tool designed to inform and guide consumers in their purchasing decisions.
Retailers are required to display this label clearly in-store. However, if they sell their product online or if it features in advertisements and promotional material, their responsibilities are further extended. Notably, the scope continues to evolve, with products such as smartphones and tablets now joining the expanding list of labelled goods. This and other practical aspects were explained to Maltese retailers during a webinar on April 13 entitled ‘Energy labelling rules you can’t ignore’, organised by the MCCAA’s Technical Regulations Division (TRD).
At the core lies the EU Energy Labelling Regulation, complemented by delegated acts that define detailed requirements for specific product groups. Energy labels provide key information such as the product’s energy efficiency class (ranging from A, the most efficient, to G, the least efficient), energy consumption, capacity, noise emissions and other relevant performance indicators.
Supplementing the energy label is the product information sheet, or product fiche, which is often more detailed than the label itself, is required to accompany the label in online sales and may be presented using a nested display close to the price.
With respect to advertisements, the energy class and the permitted range must be shown, using a standard arrow format.
All of this ensures information is transparent and easily available to consumers. This is further reflected through the EU’s EPREL database, where suppliers are required to upload product data that is freely accessible to consumers and retailers, ensuring traceability across the market.
Digitalisation has further strengthened consumer access to information. The inclusion of a QR code on energy labels allows instant access to the EPREL database, providing product information at the scan of a smartphone. This EU shift towards accessibility of product data will be reflected under the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
“Energy labelling does not operate in isolation; it is closely connected to ecodesign and understanding their relationship is essential”
This regulation aims to cover the entire life cycle of a product, particularly through the introduction of a tool that incorporates the product’s identity, compliance with EU regulations as evidenced by documentation and end-of-life information, among others. A tool that will present a comprehensive digital profile or passport of a product – known as the Digital Product Passport (DPP).
However, energy labelling does not operate in isolation; it is closely connected to ecodesign and understanding their relationship is essential. Energy labelling informs consumer choice, whereas ecodesign determines whether a product can be sold at all.
In a few words, ecodesign creates a ‘push’ effect by removing the least efficient products from the market, while energy labelling generates a ‘pull’ effect by encouraging consumers to opt for the most efficient products.
Ensuring compliance with these frameworks is fundamental to the TRD. Market surveillance activities go beyond physical inspections and may include requesting technical documentation, or even performing testing, to substantiate declared values. The outcome of such checks determines the type of enforcement action required.
If a product fails to meet minimum ecodesign requirements, it cannot remain on the market, regardless of whether an energy label is correctly displayed, and may be subject to withdrawal or recall. On the other hand, if a product complies with ecodesign requirements but carries an incorrect energy class, thereby misleading consumers, corrective action must be taken to update the label and all associated documentation.
Over the past five years, the TRD has tested a range of products against these frameworks, including air conditioning units, electric water heaters, tumble dryers and local space heaters. The results were largely positive: checks revealed that products on the Maltese market were broadly meeting the required standards; only one water heater was withdrawn from the market.
Ongoing testing campaigns, such as those currently focusing on refrigerating appliances, continue to ensure that products placed on the Maltese market meet the required standards.
As regulations evolve and digital tools such as QR codes and DPPs become more prominent, both businesses and consumers stand to benefit from greater transparency and accountability. Ultimately, understanding what lies behind that colourful label is key – not only to making informed choices but also to ensuring that the products we use contribute to a more sustainable future.
Bernice Farrugia is director (Market Surveillance), Technical Regulations Division, MCCAA.
