Ecodesign: What products does it apply to?

If you manufacture certain energy-related products you must take account of environmental aspects in the design and development of the products.

If you import or supply certain energy-related products you must ensure that the product meets the specific requirements for the type of product.

Current eco-design requirements

Ecodesign regulations have been agreed for:

• air conditioners and comfort fans
• air heating and cooling products
• circulators
• computers and computer servers
• dishwashers
• domestic ovens, hobs and range hoods
• electric motors and variable speed drives
• electronic displays including televisions
• external power supplies
• industrial fans
• lighting products
• local space heaters
• professional refrigerated storage cabinets, blast cabinets, condensing units and process chillers
• refrigerating appliances
• refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function
• servers and data storage products
• set-top boxes
• smart phones (mobile phones, tablets etc)
• solid fuel boilers
• solid fuel local space heaters
• space heaters
• standby and off mode, and networked standby, electric power consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment
• small, medium and large power transformers (regulatory relief guidance for power transformers)
• transformers
• household tumble driers
• vacuum cleaners
• ventilation units
• washing machines and washer-dryers
• water heaters, hot water storage tanks and packages of water heater and solar device
• water pumps
• welding equipment

Each category is regulated by a separate European Union (EU) implementing regulation. This sets requirements that the products must meet to be placed on the EU market.

The deadlines for meeting the design requirements vary depending on the product. You can find the timescales in the relevant ecodesign regulation. See the page in this guideline on ecodesign of energy-related products legislation.

Further information

• Guidance, post Brexit, from the department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • GOV.UK: Placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain
  • GOV.UK: Placing manufactured goods on the market in Northern Ireland

  • GOV.UK: Placing manufactured goods on the EU market

• Read the detailed guidance from the National Measurement Office (NMO) on the GOV.UK website.
  • GOV.UK: Placing energy related products on the market
  • GOV.UK: The energy labelling of products
  • GOV.UK: Saving energy through better products and appliances
  • EUROPA: Ecodesign and Energy Labelling