The Directive on Ecodesign, the way forward regarding IPP ?
Delphine Misonne
elni Review 2005, Issue 1, pp. 16-28. https://doi.org/10.46850/elni.2005.003
The European Commission, in its communication of 18 June 2003, has paved the way for a shift in conceiving environmental policies on products. It does indeed plead for the adoption of an “integrated product policy” (IPP), a concept we shall summarize as being built around three keywords: life-cycle approach, involvement of stakeholders and diversification of instruments. What IPP means precisely is not so easy to master. One way to get a better idea of what the concept does really cover is to have a closer look at the way legislation is being developed at European level, regarding the environmental impact of products, after this turning point of June 2003. In that perspective, the Directive on establishing a framework for the setting of Eco-design requirements for Energy-Using Products is worth to be scrutinized.
References
- Commission of the European Communities, 2003, Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, Integrated Product Policy, Building on Environmental Life-Cycle Thinking, COM(2003) 302 final.
- Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council On establishing a framework for the setting of Eco-design requirements for Energy-Using Products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC, COM/2003/0453 final.
- European Union, 2005, Common Position (EC) No 9/2005 adopted by the Council on 29 November 2004 with a view to adopting Directive 2005/…/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of … establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2005/C 38 E/04)
- Green Paper of 7 February 2001 on integrated product policy (presented by the Commission), COM(2001) 68 final.
- European Commission, 2003, Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council On establishing a framework for the setting of Eco-design requirements for Energy-Using Products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC, COM(2003)453.
- J.H. Jans, European Environmental Law, Groeningen, Europa Law Publishing, 2000.
- L. Krämer, EC Environmental Law, Fifth ed., Thomson, Sweet and Maxwell, 2003.
- Council Directive 92/42/EEC of 21 May 1992 on efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels, OJ L 167/17.
- Directive 96/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 September 1996 on energy efficiency requirements for household electric refrigerators, freezers and combinations thereof, OJ L 236/36.
- Directive 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on energy efficiency requirements for ballasts for fluorescent lighting, OJ L 279/33.
- Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety, OJ 2002 L 11/4.
- Commission of the European Communities, Communication from the Commission, Action plan “simplifying and improving the regulatory environment”, COM(2002) 278 final.
- Cooperative Approaches to Integrated Product Policy (IPP) – Reflections on how to structure a product forum, IOW/ Ministry of the Environment Baden-Württemberg, 2004.
- Council resolution of 7 May 1985 on a new approach to technical harmonization and standards, OJ 1985 C 136/1.