BEUC and ANEC comments following the Ecodesign Consultation Forum meeting on Computers of 1 October 2024

BEUC and ANEC welcome the efforts made by the Commission to develop new up-to-date Ecodesign and energy labelling requirements for computers. We call on the Commission to finalise the work as soon as possible and ensure and early application of the new rules.

Further improvements are necessary to ensure consumers can continue to use their products for longer and easily repair them, if necessary. Longer software support is key to avoid software-induced premature obsolescence of computers.

We ask the Commission to ensure that the proposed measures on minimum power limits also increase the energy efficiency of most common computers, and not only that of high-performance ones.

The energy label should enable consumers to clearly compare information across products. The Commission should test the label with consumers before introducing it on the market to ensure it is fit for purpose.

We support the development of a repair score for computers, but we regret to see that it does not adequately account for the cost of repair, which remains the main barrier to repair for consumers.