Understanding EPREL: An Overview on Responsibilities

Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 introduces new rules concerning energy labels, significantly reshaping how products are presented and registered in the EU market. Energy classes have been rescaled from A to G to provide a clearer, more graduated indication of energy efficiency. To enhance consumer accessibility to detailed product information, QR codes have been added to the labels. Moreover, some product groups have undergone changes in measurement and calculation methods, and there have been updates to the units displayed on the labels, further refining the information provided to consumers and aligning with the new regulatory framework. For more information, please refer to our complete EPREL guide.

Another new requirement is the mandatory registration in the European Product Database for Energy Labelling (EPREL), which is among the most significant and challenging for suppliers. Starting from January 1, 2019, suppliers (manufacturers and importers) are obligated to register all their products that require an energy label for the EU market in the EPREL.

EPREL is a database hosted by the European Commission that serves various user groups, including economic operators (such as manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives), consumers, and market surveillance authorities. Basically, EPREL consists of two parts: the compliance part and the public part.

1. Setting up your EPREL organization: The first step in the EPREL product registration process is to create the organization within EPREL by using an EU Login account. The organization is the entity (legal or natural person) defined as a supplier in the database. It can be either a manufacturer, an importer, or an authorised representative of a third country manufacturer.
2. Creating your EPREL trademarks (brands):  It is mandatory to define at least one trademark, in order to start registering product models. Only the admins of the organization have the authority to create these trademarks or brands.
3. Start registering products: Once the organization and trademark(s) are in place, the product registration process can be initiated. For each model, the declaration values, which constitute the basis for the energy label and product information sheet, must be entered into the system. Alongside them, technical documentation  (measurement and calculation results, test reports, declarations of conformity, etc.) must also be uploaded to the system. These documents provide the evidence and support the declared values of the model and serve as proof of compliance with relevant regulations. Providing this information to EPREL can be done in three ways: manual entry of each required field, mass registration for bulk uploads, or through system-to-system communication.

The EPREL registration number is a unique identifier assigned to each product when it is registered in the database. This number ensures that every product can be uniquely identified, helping to avoid any confusion with similar products and ensuring that all data in the database can be accurately linked to the correct product.

It is also instrumental in creating the QR code URL associated with each product. This QR code is printed on the product’s energy label and serves as a direct link to the product’s details page.

When a consumer scans the QR code on a product’s label, they are redirected to a specific page on the public part of the EPREL database. This page provides detailed information about the product, including its energy efficiency, compliance documents, and other pertinent details that can help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

PREL registration is crucial for suppliers for several compelling reasons. Firstly, it is their responsibility to ensure that all product models are registered in the EPREL database. This registration must include accurate information that complies with energy labelling and ecodesign requirements, along with detailed technical documentation showcasing the energy efficiency and performance characteristics of their products.

The accuracy and completeness of this information are vital, not only to provide consumers with reliable information but also for the purposes of market surveillance. Market surveillance authorities rely on the compliance section of the database to conduct their inspections. If they find any non-compliance in the documents uploaded by suppliers, it can result in a range of sanctions. These could vary from fines to potentially severe measures like the recall of products from the market, depending on the level of risk associated with the non-compliance.

From 1 January 2019, suppliers established in the EU must register products required to have an EU energy label in the EPREL database before placing them on the EU market. Manufacturers in third countries need an importer or an authorised representative established in the EU to register their products.

On the other hand, when working with the EPREL database, suppliers face several important challenges, each of which can affect the efficiency of the registration process and the accuracy of product lists.

– Ensuring Consistency in Product Information

– Overcoming the Time-Consuming Data Upload Process

– Navigating Complex Technical Documentation

Recognising the challenges and complexities associated with EPREL registration, we offer services specifically designed to support manufacturers and importers:

Expert Consultation: We provide guidance on understanding EPREL requirements, ensuring that your products meet all necessary regulations for energy labelling and ecodesign.

Streamlined Registration Process: Our team takes care of the smooth and accurate registration of products in the EPREL database on your behalf, saving you valuable time.

Compliance Management: We monitor regulatory changes and update your product registrations as required, ensuring ongoing compliance and minimising the risk of non-compliance penalties.

Do you require any assistance with the registration of your products in EPREL, or would you like the registration to be performed by an experienced party? 24hour-AR can help. Do not hesitate to contact us.