Business met with the Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving

11/ 08/ 2023

Yesterday, representatives of the EBAs Consumer Electronics Committee met with Hanna Zamazieieva, the Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving. The discussion revolved around topics related to the energy efficiency of appliances, aligning Ukrainian legislative requirements with EU standards, legislative inconsistencies, and more. Specifically, the business representatives raised the issue of the timeline for incorporating changes into the Energy Efficiency Law. According to them, to ensure the functioning of the energy labeling system for energy-consuming products, a corresponding database will be established and maintained by the central executive authority responsible for implementing state policies in the energy efficiency field. At the same time, according to information from member companies of the EBA, Ukraines focus on integration with the EU and recommendations from the Energy Community Secretariat, the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving made a decision. Instead of creating a separate Ukrainian database of energy-consuming products, it will allow the use of the European Product Registry for Energy Labeling (EPREL) in Ukraine. This move is supported by the business community as it will facilitate more effective monitoring of equipment compliance with technical standards adopted in Ukraine. However, the timeline for adopting this document remains a question, and the EBA is very hopeful that this will happen shortly. The next topic of discussion was label marking. As noted by the business community, these labels in Ukraine and the EU have minor differences. However, these differences affect the ability to import goods from the EU market into Ukraine. Therefore, the business community believes that energy labels for Ukrainian consumers could also be presented without changes, following the templates used in the EU. This means that international units of measurement symbols (using letters from the Latin or Greek alphabet) and inscriptions will be applied to the product labeling introduced to the Ukrainian market. Utilizing the European model of such labels will assist businesses in avoiding unnecessary expenses for creating separate labels. This approach will contribute to harmonizing regulations between Ukraine and the EU, and considering Ukraines aspiration to join the EU in the coming years, at least in terms of technical regulation, it will significantly streamline this path. A separate matter raised was the import of energy-efficient room heaters and combined heaters. As of August of last year, the introduction of non-energy-efficient standard convective (fan-assisted) boilers with low energy efficiency levels into the Ukrainian market has been prohibited. The business community supports this decision, as it can lead to up to 25% gas savings. However, some unscrupulous entrepreneurs continue to supply banned standard convective (fan-assisted) boilers to the Ukrainian market, as they are cheaper than energy-efficient boilers, making them economically more attractive to builders. Such a situation could potentially force law-abiding companies out of the Ukrainian market and adversely affect Ukraines reputation in terms of effective state supervision and control over non-food products by EU standards and legislative requirements. Therefore, it is crucial to address the issue of the unlawful import of such products. The business sector has already brought this issue to the attention of the Ministry of Economy, State Customs Service, and others. As of now, the situation remains unresolved. The business also raised other equally important issues, including concerns about the implementation of Technical Regulations, etc. It was agreed to compile all the questions and suggestions from the community and have another meeting to determine the areas where businesses and State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving can cooperate further. Therefore, we sincerely thank Hanna Zamazieieva for the meeting and look forward to continued partnership!

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Yesterday, representatives of the EBA’s Consumer Electronics Committee met with Hanna Zamazieieva, the Head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving.

The discussion revolved around topics related to the energy efficiency of appliances, aligning Ukrainian legislative requirements with EU standards, legislative inconsistencies, and more. Specifically, the business representatives raised the issue of the timeline for incorporating changes into the “Energy Efficiency Law.” According to them, to ensure the functioning of the energy labeling system for energy-consuming products, a corresponding database will be established and maintained by the central executive authority responsible for implementing state policies in the energy efficiency field. At the same time, according to information from member companies of the EBA, Ukraine’s focus on integration with the EU and recommendations from the Energy Community Secretariat, the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving made a decision. Instead of creating a separate Ukrainian database of energy-consuming products, it will allow the use of the European Product Registry for Energy Labeling (EPREL) in Ukraine. This move is supported by the business community as it will facilitate more effective monitoring of equipment compliance with technical standards adopted in Ukraine. However, the timeline for adopting this document remains a question, and the EBA is very hopeful that this will happen shortly.

The next topic of discussion was label marking. As noted by the business community, these labels in Ukraine and the EU have minor differences. However, these differences affect the ability to import goods from the EU market into Ukraine. Therefore, the business community believes that energy labels for Ukrainian consumers could also be presented without changes, following the templates used in the EU. This means that international units of measurement symbols (using letters from the Latin or Greek alphabet) and inscriptions will be applied to the product labeling introduced to the Ukrainian market. Utilizing the “European” model of such labels will assist businesses in avoiding unnecessary expenses for creating separate labels. This approach will contribute to harmonizing regulations between Ukraine and the EU, and considering Ukraine’s aspiration to join the EU in the coming years, at least in terms of technical regulation, it will significantly streamline this path.

A separate matter raised was the import of energy-efficient room heaters and combined heaters. As of August of last year, the introduction of non-energy-efficient standard convective (fan-assisted) boilers with low energy efficiency levels into the Ukrainian market has been prohibited. The business community supports this decision, as it can lead to up to 25% gas savings. However, some unscrupulous entrepreneurs continue to supply banned standard convective (fan-assisted) boilers to the Ukrainian market, as they are cheaper than energy-efficient boilers, making them economically more attractive to builders. Such a situation could potentially force law-abiding companies out of the Ukrainian market and adversely affect Ukraine’s reputation in terms of effective state supervision and control over non-food products by EU standards and legislative requirements. Therefore, it is crucial to address the issue of the unlawful import of such products. The business sector has already brought this issue to the attention of the Ministry of Economy, State Customs Service, and others. As of now, the situation remains unresolved.

The business also raised other equally important issues, including concerns about the implementation of Technical Regulations, etc. It was agreed to compile all the questions and suggestions from the community and have another meeting to determine the areas where businesses and State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving can cooperate further. Therefore, we sincerely thank Hanna Zamazieieva for the meeting and look forward to continued partnership!