EU obligations under Market Surveillance

​​​​​​​​​Market Surveillance and Ecodesign & Energy/Tyre Labelling

DCCAE has policy responsibility for Energy Labelling and Tyre Labelling. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has policy responsibility for Ecodesign). The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is the legal authority for Market Surveillance for Energy Labelling, Ecodesign and Tyre Labelling. He has appointed the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to undertake market surveillance of these three functions.

SEAI are therefore responsible for Market Surveillance of Energy Labelling, Ecodesign and Tyre Labelling in Ireland. This role entails ensuring that products available in the Irish market comply with EU EcoDesign, Energy and Tyre Labelling directives.
The EU put these directives in place to provide consumers with information regarding the energy consumption and environmental performances of energy-using products. They also aim to promote energy efficiency and more responsible use of energy by consumers.

A national market surveillance project to determine compliance with the national legislation relating to energy labelling and ecodesign was undertaken between November 2013 and November 2015. Details of this project can be found here​

EcoDesign

The EcoDesign Regulations set out the national rules which implement the EU Directive on EcoDesign.  S.I 203 of 2011​ transposed the EU Directive on Ecodesign. The aim of Ecodesign requirements is to improve energy efficiency by integrating environmental issues and life-cycle thinking already in the product design phase. In practice, Ecodesign requirements are usually applied to energy consumption during the use of the product. If a product does not meet the EcoDesign requirements set for it, it cannot be placed on the EU market.  Products which  comply with the minimum ecodesign requirements bear a "CE" marking.  

S.I. 454 of 2013 outlines the current products that are covered by the regulations. 

Energy Labelling

The EU Directive on Energy Labelling establishes a framework for the provision of labelling and other information to be supplied for energy using products at the point of sale. S.I 366 of 2011​ transposed the EU Directive on Energy Labelling

These regulations are in place to ensure that consumers are provided with comparable information relating to the amount of energy and other resources a product consumes during use. The regulations also aim to promote energy efficiency and more responsible use of energy by consumers. 

In July 2017 a new Energy Labelling Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 was published that will gradually replace the EU directive on Energy Labelling. 

S.I. 351 of 2014 outlines the current products that are covered by the regulations.

Tyre Labelling                                                                                         

The Tyre Labelling Regulations are (S.I. 342 of 2012) set out the national rules which implement the labelling of tyres.  A new easy-to-read label ranks tyres on a scale from G (bad) to A (best). To make sure that the fuel savings does not come at the expense of safety or noise, three parameters are evaluated:

Fuel consumption is related to the rolling resistance. By reducing rolling resistance, the tyre consumes less petrol.

Wet grip is one of the most important safety characteristics of a tyre. Tyres with very good wet grip have a shorter braking distance when it rains.

The external noise generated by the tyre is expressed in waves: one black wave is the lowest noise level and three the highest. The aim is to reduce traffic-related noise for communities.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment​ is the policy lead for this S.I.

FAQ on Tyre Labelling Regulations.pdf

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