By Martin Banks - 21st April 2009
While not being our recommended option we believe that the proposals are workable and will achieve their intended goals
Luigi Meli
MEPs meeting in Strasbourg have been urged not to reject plans for a new energy labelling scheme on household goods
Members of the industry, research and energy committee are due to vote on new EU-wide energy labels for fridges, freezers and washing machines at a meeting on Tuesday evening.
If approved, the revised labels are planned to come into effect from 1 January 2010.
However, the Socialist group, backed by the Greens, have put forward a resolution calling for the proposed change to be rejected.
The resolution, to be considered at the meeting, says the labelling proposal will "confuse" consumers and "hamper proper understanding" of the energy labelling scheme.
It also calls on the commission to withdraw its draft directive and submit a new one to parliament which provides "clear, comprehensive and easily-understandable" information for shoppers.
The body representing European domestic appliance producers has now written to members of the committee appealing to them not to reject the proposal for new energy classifications.
The letter says, "Though not perfect, producers believe that the proposal is an acceptable solution in order not to lose more time and miss further energy and CO2 savings."
"While not being our recommended option we believe that the proposals are workable and will achieve their intended goals."
It goes on, "Rejection will mean the commission and the regulatory committee will need to restart discussions all over again. This will delay the introduction of the revised energy labels.
"During the delay, millions of appliances will be sold. Without revised energy labels, appliances sold during this period will not be as efficient as they could have been and therefore will general unnecessary CO2 emissions."
The letter was sent by Luigi Meli, director general of CECED, the European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers.
* The ALDE group has organised an informal hearing on the issue ahead of the vote.
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