Policy Updates

<p>Together with the invitation for the Consultation Forum on machine tools and welding equipment that will take place on 25 October 2017, the European Commission has circulated draft guidelines on air heating products, cooling products, high temperature process chillers, and fan coil units for comments. Eurovent has summarised recommended actions for members.</p>

<p>The April 2017 standardisation request by the European Commission to accompany the eco-design regulation for air heating products, cooling products, high temperature process chillers and fan coils has been updated. It is now circulating within the relevant CEN Technical Committees for comments and adoption.</p>

<p>The rise in the number and the continued building of new data centres has caught the attention of the European Commission’s DG Environment. Early in 2017, the Joint Research Centre in Seville together with a consortium led by Viegand Maagøe started a study that will develop procurement criteria.</p>

<p>As of 15 August 2018, the scope of the WEEE Directive 2012/19 will be extended to ‘all’ Electric and Electronic Equipment (EEE). The list of EEE subject to the scope has been extended. The past five years have seen discussions on its interpretation. For many Member States, the interpretations will be similar, also regarding large-scale industrial tools and large-scale fixed installations.</p>

<p>Based on requests from member companies and associations, the Eurovent Association plans on relaunching its Product Group ‘Dust Removal’ (formerly Eurovent PG-4B), which covers industrial filtration issues and had been dormant for several years. Interested manufacturers are invited to contact the Eurovent Secretariat for further information.</p>

<p>The 40^th edition of HOST is going to take place in Milan from 20 to 24 October 2017. HOST is the international exhibition for Ho.Re.Ca, food service, food technology and retail. Milan will once again become the capital of professional hospitality. Eurovent is going to participate in the exhibition as proud supporter of the ‘Food-Technology Lounge’ of our Italian member Federazione Anima.</p>

<p>For the first meeting, the European Commission brought ‘Suppliers’ together to discuss the content and functioning of the future EU product database. Additional meetings are going to follow involving the ‘Public’ and ‘Market Surveillance Authorities’. The objective is to get the database operational by 1 January 2019 as requested by the framework Regulation 2017/1369, sticking to its requirements. The Eurovent Team has attended the meeting and summarised its outcome and key results for members.</p>

<p>On a monthly basis, the Eurovent Team compiles a global overview of the latest developments concerning new standardisation activities and technical regulations of relevance for the HVACR industry. Our Notifications allow members to be prepare for developments that can have an impact on them and their products.</p>

<p>The Preparatory Study for ENER Lot 33 ‘Smart appliances’ analysed various demand side flexibility-ready smart appliances. The issue of interoperability was far more complex than expected. The initial study did not identify clear policy options. The European Commission decided to cover the complexity and policy options in an additional second phase of the Preparatory Study. The Eurovent Team has outlined the key takeaways for members.</p>

<p>The Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is organising a high-ranking, two-day conference on refrigeration in the supermarket sector. It will take place at Taastrup (Copenhagen) from 8-9 November 2017. This conference focusses on the energy challenges and on how all parties of the cooling chain may benefit from the ongoing and upcoming regulations and by having an up-to-date climate policy. The ongoing trends towards natural refrigerants, especially CO2, and the supermarkets’ shift from R404A to CO2 will be analysed and discussed by major European refrigeration experts. In the course of the event, two interesting sessions on the challenges for producers, suppliers, installers, and end-users will also take place. The Danish Energy Agency is contributing to the conference, which is supported by Eurovent Association.</p>

<p>DG Environment has asked a consortium led by Deloitte to study the socio-economic impacts of measures that would improve the reparability of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) as well as on white, brown and grey goods. The study supports the development of the employment potential of green growth within the circular economy.</p>

<p>At the latest five years after the publication date of a European EN standard, or earlier upon decision, it is subject to a systematic review. For EN ISO Standards, ISO carries out the systematic reviews on the corresponding – identical – ISO standards and decides on their future. The Eurovent Team has outlined this process for members.</p>