EPREL: EU Energy Labeling Database Goes Live Jan 2019

The EU Product Database for Energy Labeling (EPREL) will be operational as of 1 January 2019 after which it will mandatory for suppliers i.e., manufacturers and importers, to enter data on all new products subject to energy labeling requirements. The information must be entered in the EPREL database before the products are placed on the EU market. However, the information in the database will not be made public until April 2019.

The European Commission is responsible for building and maintaining the common database pursuant to the Framework for Energy Efficiency Labeling Regulation (EU) No 2017/1369. The database will consist of  two sections: a public section aimed at consumers and another section aimed at market surveillance authorities that monitor compliance with the energy labeling.

Important dates for suppliers

• 1 January 2019: All new products subject to energy labeling placed on the EU market after 1 January 2019 must first be registered in the database.
• 1 April 2019: Information in the database becomes visible to market surveillance authorities and the public.
• 30 June 2019: All products placed on the market between 1 August 2017 and 31 December 2019 must be registered in the database prior to this date.
• 1 August 2017 : Products placed on the market before 1 August 2017 may be registered in the database as of 1 January 2019 on a voluntary basis. 

The European Commission is developing an online forum to assist with queries regarding EPREL. This will include questions and answers, a manual for registering products in the database, a trial version and a discussion forum. The website is still under construction so all features are not yet in place.