7 November 2005 - Press Briefing
BEC response to Consultation Paper on a Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (EELS)
BEC submitted a formal written response to the HKSAR government's Consultation Paper on Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labeling Scheme (EELS) on 31 October 2005. A group media briefing was arranged to express the views of the business community towards the scheme. BEC's Deputy Director, Mr Kevin Edmunds and Dr John Chai, Chairperson of BEC Working Group on Sustainable Development took the opportunity to brief the press on the scheme's strengths, limitations and directions moving forward.
Here is the highlight of BEC response to Consultation Paper on Mandatory EELS:
A) Recommendations for the Proposed Mandatory EELS
Whilst the consultation paper focused on administrative matters such as product registration, product testing, retailers's obligation to sell products with euthenics labels and enforcement, BEC has made the following recommendations for ensuring the effectiveness of the proposed Mandatory EELS in fulfilling its objectives of encouraging the use and marketing of energy efficient products.
- The scheme should aim to provide consumers with useful, broad and accessible information for making informed buying decisions. For instance: energy savings should be expressed in dollar terms on the labels, in addition to traditional "numerical grading" approach. Other related information such as environmental benefits of the products, or "tips" for proper usage and maintenance to ensure energy efficient performance should be available to consumers through wider variety of channels. The information channels should be explored with manufacturers, importers, retailers, etc.
- Government should actively encourage the development of energy efficient products through, for instance, creating a platform for the industry to share knowledge in product design.
- The scheme should be streamline enough to avoid overburdening the suppliers, limiting product choices or causing delay in marketing new products.
B) Recommendations for a broader product policy
Besides the proposed Mandatory EELS, BEC recommends that the Government should develop a clear, broader, and integrated product policy for encouraging the use, development and marketing of environmentally friendly product. Key recommendations include:
- The use of wider range of voluntary and regulatory measures that engage both the consumers and the producers.
- Consideration of the entire product life cycle in formulating the product policy.
- The participation of all stakeholders, including consumers, manufacturers, retailer, green groups, the government, etc. in forming the policy.
Materials are available for downloading: