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The European Energy Star Program

The European Energy Star Program is a voluntary energy-labeling program for office equipment. Manufacturers, assemblers, exporters, importers and retailers are invited to register with the European Commission allowing them to place the Energy Star label on products that meet or exceed energy-efficiency guidelines. The participation in the program is voluntary. As office equipment is traded world-wide, an agreement was signed December 2000 between the Government of the United States of America and the European Community intended to co-ordinate energy-efficient labeling programs for office equipment in two of the major global markets for office products. The Agreement is intended to stimulate international trade of office equipment, by facilitating the procedures for economic operators to participate in the Energy Star program. The Agreement is managed by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission and it will remain in force for an initial period of five years.

a. As office equipment is traded world-wide, an agreement was signed December 2000 between the Government of the United States of America and the European Community intended to co-ordinate energy-efficient labeling programs for office equipment in two of the major global markets for office products. The Agreement is intended to stimulate international trade of office equipment, by facilitating the procedures for economic operators to participate in the Energy Star program. The Agreement is managed by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission and it will remain in force for an initial period of five years. The Agreement is: codified as: Council Decision of 14 May 2001 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the European Community on the co-ordination of energy-efficient labeling programs for office equipment , Official Journal L 172 of 26.06.2001,

b. Regulation (EC) No 2422/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 was adopted to define a Community energy efficiency labeling program for office equipment. Regulation (EC) No. 2422/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on a Community energy efficiency labeling program for office equipment , Official Journal L 332 of 15.12.2001, p. 1 – 6). The regulation of November 2001 introduced in the Community the Energy Star logo as a sign or marking as defined in the Agreement with the United States, secondly, to set the rules for its use and to prohibit its misuse and, thirdly, to establish the general rules and procedures for the implementation in the Community of the provisions of the Agreement.