New european ecodesign regulations applied to the lighting industry

In September 2021, a new regulation came into force that establishes different ecodesign requirements, as well as new requirements regarding the light source energy labelling for lighting products.

A continuación, os presentamos un resumen de dicha normativa:

The following is an overview of such regulation:

New concepts: 'Light Sources' and 'Containing Product'

It is important to note that the new regulation no longer refers to lamps, LED modules or luminaires. Due to new market trends and in the interest of circular economy, the EU now refers to these as light sources and containing products:

  • Light source means an electrically operated product intended to emit light in the spectrum from daylight to warm white. That is, it can be a lamp, a module or a luminaire with fully integrated components.
  • Containing product means a product containing one or more light sources, or separate control gears, or both. It shall be possible to take apart such containing product to allow separate verification of the contained light source(s).
  • Containing products are not subject to the new labelling regulation, but if a containing product cannot be taken apart without resulting in permanent damage, the entire containing product is to be considered a light source and the same requirements apply to it as to light sources

    New Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations

    This new set of rules consists of two new regulations:

  • Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 on ecodesign requirements: establishes a set of new and more stringent requirements in terms of energy efficiency and circular economy that light sources and separate control gears must comply with (e.g. displacement factor, flicker, stroboscopic effect, etc.). These new ecodesign requirements are NOT addressed to luminaires, but they are affected as they contain light sources.
  • Furthermore, in the case of products sold directly to end-users, information shall be provided (on the packaging and in the user instructions) about the replaceability or non-replaceability of light sources and control gears by end-users or qualified persons.

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  • Regulation (EU) 2019/2015 on energy labelling of light sources: from now on, the energy label shall only be attached to light sources, while luminaires (understood as a containing product) shall be no longer required to have one.
  • With the new regulation, a new rating scale is established from A to G, eliminating classes A+ and A++, in order to standardise the energy improvements that have been developed in recent years, while clarifying the most efficient options to consumers.

    The method of calculating the energy efficiency class has also changed, including now higher energy efficiency requirements, so initially no product shall belong to class A (rather mostly to classes E, F and G).

    In addition, the new label for light sources includes, alongside the energy labelling, a QR code that redirects the consumer to the European database EPREL (European Product Database for Energy Labelling) to check the energy characteristics of light sources.

    Although the new label requirement is applicable as of 1 September 2021, distributors can market products using the old label until March 2023.

    From 1 March 2022 it is also mandatory for luminaires to include the energy class of the light source in the user instructions or instruction booklet with the following text:

    'This product contains a light source of energy efficiency class '

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    Finally, it is important to note that the regulation establishing labelling for all light sources lists a number of exceptions that do not require labelling: products for emergency use, battery-operated products, medical devices, marine equipment, etc.

    EPREL (European Product Database for Energy Labelling)

    The European Product Database for Energy Labelling is an online product registration database managed by the European Commission that will be made available to users. EPREL contains data on the energy performance of products that are affected by energy labelling regulations.

    From May 2021, all light sources (whether they are considered as a light source or as part of a containing product) must be entered into this database.

    Conclusion

    Novolux Lighting is implementing the new regulations as quickly as possible, promoting efficient lighting practices that benefit the environment and the health of consumers, as well as actively guiding our customers. Our commitment to transparency and best practices is aligned with European regulations aimed at reducing environmental impact.

    Thus, in short, products can be divided into:

    1. Light source: an electrically operated product intended to emit light (lamps, COBs, SMD boards, LED strips, etc.). These products:

  • Shall have an Energy Efficiency Label;
  • Shall be entered into the EPREL database;
  • Their energy class shall be specified in advertising and promotional materials;
  • Information on Energy Class must be provided.
  • 2. Containing product: a product containing one or more light sources, which can be taken apart for verification without resulting in damage. These products:

  • Shall NOT have an Energy Efficiency Label;
  • Their light sources shall be entered into the EPREL database;
  • Their Energy Class shall be specified in the instructions and data sheets;
  • Instructions on how to take apart light sources should be readily available to the surveillance authorities;
  • The Energy Class and data sheet must be readily available to users on eCommerce platforms.