The Energy Information (Lamps) Regulations 1999
These Regulations implement Council Directive 92/75/EEC (on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by household appliances) and Commission Directive 98/11/EC (implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household lamps).The lamps to which the Regulations apply are those specified in the definition of “regulated lamp" in regulation 2(1), other than those excluded by regulation 3(2).The suppliers of regulated lamps are required by regulation 4 to print on the packaging of every regulated lamp a label (defined in regulation 2(1)) in the form, and containing the information, indicated in Schedule 1. Where that is not possible because of the size of the packaging, the supplier may attach to the packaging of the lamp a label containing the relevant information.Regulation 5 requires suppliers who provide product brochures to include in the brochures the information that would otherwise be displayed on the label. Where a supplier does not provide a product brochure, he must supply with the lamp information equivalent to that which would have been provided on a label. Information supplied in either of these ways is referred to in the Regulations as an information notice (defined in regulation 2(1)).The supplier is deemed to consent to the publication of the information given in a label or information notice (regulation 6), and is required, by regulations 7 and 8, to take sole responsibility for the accuracy of the information given in labels and information notices, and to establish technical documentation for the purpose of enabling the accuracy of that information to be assessed.A dealer who displays a regulated lamp is required to ensure that the lamp or its packaging bears a label containing the appropriate Schedule 1 information. He is relieved of this duty if he provides the information as part of the display, for example, on the shelf on which the lamps are displayed.Where a dealer offers for sale a regulated lamp by mail order or in other circumstances in which potential purchasers cannot be expected to see the lamp, regulation 10 requires the dealer to provide relevant information as determined in Schedules 2 and 3.Regulation 11 prohibits the display of labels, marks, symbols and inscriptions relating to energy consumption which, although not complying with the Regulations, would be taken to comply and would be likely to mislead or confuse. The prohibition does not apply to labels etc. displayed under a Community or national environmental labelling scheme.Regulation 12 provides for the enforcement of the Regulations by local weights and measures authorities, except in Northern Ireland where the enforcement authority is the Department of Economic Development (“enforcement authority" is defined in regulation 2(1)). Provisions about offences, penalties and other matters relating to the enforcement of the Regulations are contained in Schedule 4.Regulation 13 makes transitional provision; until 31st December 2000 the Regulations do not apply to the supply or display of regulated lamps or to the distribution of product brochures or the other printed communications to which regulation 10 applies.A Regulatory Impact Assessment, estimating the financial impact of the Regulations on the suppliers of, and dealers in, regulated lamps, can be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 3DE.