Energy label

Energy labels are clear, easy-to-understand colour rankings based on the energy efficiency of products. In addition to the energy efficiency of the product, energy labels allow consumers to make informed choices by providing information, such as noise emissions, water consumption, resistance to falls or to water, reparability and battery durability.

As a manufacturer, importer, or reseller, you should know that EU energy label rules apply to household appliances (e.g. dishwashers, televisions, light bulbs, etc.) and business-to-business products (e.g. water heaters, air conditioners, boilers etc.).  The rules do not apply to second-hand products nor to transportation means for goods and people. 

Label rating system  

Energy labels rank appliances from class A (dark green), representing the most energy-efficient products, to class G (red), which are the least efficient.

Since 2021, the simplified A to G scale (no longer using the "+" sign) applies to these product categories: 

• Refrigerators for domestic/hotel use 
• Refrigerators for commercial use 
• Dishwashers 
• Washing machines 
• Televisions, computer monitors and signage displays 
• Light bulbs and lamps

Learn more about how the energy label rating works. 

Products that require labels

The energy label must be clearly displayed on each product at the point of sale, including in online stores. 

Find more product-specific information on energy labelling and ecodesign requirements.

Obligations of manufacturers and resellers

If you manufacture or import products, or represent a non-EU manufacturer, you must register your products in the EPREL database before selling them in the EU. Follow these steps:

Register your company

• Create an EPREL account and complete the verification process using a digital identity system (e.g., eIDAS electronic seals/signatures). This will require an EU Login account. The EU Login account also gives access to the EPREL guidelines for information on the registration process.

Register your products

• Add each model to EPREL before selling the first unit in the EU.
• EPREL will generate the energy label (with a QR code if the product falls under regulations from 2019 onward).
• Attach the energy label to the products or their packaging (depending on the product category, e.g., tyres, displays).
• Share the EPREL registration number with dealers/distributors (e.g., in offers or invoices) so they can access the label and product information sheet. Tools are available to streamline this process.

Provide required information

• Key parameters for generating the energy label and product information sheet.
• Technical documentation for compliance checks by authorities.

For more information, check out this  overview of the regulatory framework and the additional  energy labelling tools. 

Online or other distance selling 

For online or distance selling, the energy label information must be clearly displayed close to the price. You can either display the full energy label or just the energy class arrow with a link to the label and to the product information sheet. You may locally upload label and sheet, or link to the product registration in EPREL. 

Staying up to date

As technologies evolve, so do the rules. Requirements that can change include product information that you must make available, indicators used to rank a product and where labels must be placed. You should monitor:

• The energy efficient products portal
• EU standards for ecodesign and energy labelling

Get access to national information below.