Boilers - Trade association unhappy with EuP plans

04/02/2008

New European legislation designed to curb nitrous oxide emissions could cause major problems for some manufacturers of boilers, according to a trade association.

Jeremy Hawksley of the Oil Firing Technical Association warned that combined labelling laws set to come into force in 2009 as part of the Energy-using Products (EuP) directive would impose severe restrictions on small manufacturers.

The rules will require appliance manufacturers to supply not only a stand alone boiler, but also the water tanks and controls needed to put together an energy-efficient heating system.

Mr Hawksley said: "These onerous requirements will make it difficult, if not impossible for smaller manufacturers to compete with large global companies in offering a complete product portfolio."

He added that he believes the proposals to be "anti-competitive" and that they could make it difficult for some businesses to survive.

EuP is intended to provide EU-wide rules for eco-design and accelerate the improvement of the environmental performance of energy-using products.