10 February 2009, Brussels: European household appliance manufacturers warn that any proposal for a future EU energy label should avoid a downgrade in energy efficiency class ratings of appliances, as that would inhibit progress toward a sustainable energy future in Europe.
The Commission and EU member state experts are currently discussing proposals to revise the energy labelling requirements for household electric appliances. The proposals currently include a “rescaling” of the existing A-to-G ranking where appliances already covered by the system would be downgraded by one or more notches.
According to CECED (the European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers), such a rescaling is counterproductive from a sustainability point-of-view as it would create severe negative pressure on the perceived value of appliances that have already attained high levels of energy efficiency in the market.  This would undermine the capacity for industry to invest in further innovation.
"Rescaling existing appliances just one notch downwards could result in a 1.5 billion euro loss to the bottom-line across our industry and put thousands of jobs at risk," adds Silvano Fumagalli, Vice President of CECED. "In this depressed economic environment, our household appliance industry would be penalized for its investment in energy efficiency."
Fumagalli, who is also Managing Director of Candy Elettrodomestici, explained that the domestic appliance manufacturers in Europe have spent 15 billion euros on energy efficiency innovation since the label took effect in 1995.  This innovation has resulted in a 20% energy efficiency improvement in household appliances every 4 years, at constant nominal prices for the consumer.
 “As an industry, we are fully committed to improving energy efficiency.  This is why we are troubled by the current discussions," underscored Fumagalli.  "We urge the Commission and Member States to agree on a sensible solution that supports an open-ended, dynamic energy label, and does not downgrade the most energy-efficient appliances already on the market.”
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Press contacts: Denise Crenwelge, tel + 32 2 706 82 88, email denise.crenwelge@ceced.eu
About CECED: CECED represents the household appliance manufacturing industry in Europe. Its member companies employ over 200,000 people, are mainly based in Europe, and have a turnover of about EUR 40 billion. If upstream and downstream business is taken together, the sector employs over 500,000 people. Direct Members are Arçelik, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, Candy Group, De’Longhi, Electrolux Holdings, Fagor Group, Gorenje, Liebherr, Indesit Company, Merloni Termosanitari, Miele, Philips, Saeco, SEB and Whirlpool Europe. CECED’s member associations cover the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.