As the Market Surveillance Authority, SEAI tackles non-compliance of lighting products on the market.

Key Outcomes

  • Voluntary corrective action taken by the manufacturer

  • 29,000 units

    of non-compliant LED lighting products removed from the EU Single Market by SEAI
  • The manufacturer took internal corrective actions to ensure future compliance

Background

The Ecodesign Directive aims to improve the energy efficiency of energy-related products on the market by setting higher standards. The Directive currently covers more than 30 energy-related product groups. Products covered by Ecodesign and sold on the EU market must comply with the regulations.  As the Market Surveillance Authority (MSA) for Ecodesign and energy labelling, SEAI conducts market surveillance activities with the aim of ensuring that non-compliant products are identified, checked and removed from the market or that they are brought into compliance.

This case study outlines how SEAI engaged constructively with a lighting manufacturer to remove non-compliant lighting products from the EU Single Market. 

Issue - Non-Compliance

During an inspections campaign in 2022, SEAI identified a range of LED lighting products which had been placed on the European Single Market by a manufacturer without having completed the required conformity assessment. The conformity assessment is a process undertaken by manufacturers to make sure their products meet European requirements. As part of the process, manufacturers must test the product model to demonstrate its compliance and provide the results to the MSA upon request.

 

Having reviewed the information for the manufacturer's range of products on the EPREL (European Product Database for Energy Labelling) database, SEAI identified that the conformity assessment procedure had not been correctly followed by the manufacturer and presented its findings to them.  

The manufacturer disclosed that 2,350 units of these lighting products were already sold and a further 29,000 non-compliant units were still in stock in the manufacturer’s warehouses.

Action

When notified of the non-compliance by SEAI, the manufacturer took voluntary corrective action and removed the 29,000 units of non-compliant LED lighting products from the marketplace.  

The manufacturer then carried out a conformity assessment on the withdrawn stock. Products that met EU regulations could be sold again, while products that failed to meet the regulations were either sold or donated to organizations outside the European Single Market, or recycled under the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) scheme. 

Outcome

It is normal practice for SEAI to give the economic operator (the manufacturer or business involved) concerned the opportunity to address non-compliance voluntarily through undertaking appropriate corrective actions. However, there will be instances where an appropriate outcome is not achieved through such engagement and where civil enforcement, or prosecution is warranted. 

In this instance, the manufacturer's voluntary actions and engagement with SEAI was positive, addressing the non-compliance, preventing future non-compliance across its product range, and contributing towards maintaining a level playing field in the market for compliant businesses.  

Advice for Suppliers

Review compliance procedures, become familiar with the uniform European requirements for energy labelling and eco-design and contact the MSA for guidance.

We are happy to answer any questions. 

For more information, click here (opens in a new tab)