Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2023 of 1 October 2019 laying down ecodesign requirements for household washing machines and household washer-dryers pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010 (Text with EEA relevance.)

Article 1

Subject matter and scope

This Regulation shall not apply to:

(a) washing machines and washer-dryers belonging to the scope of Directive 2006/42/EC (¹);

(b) battery-operated household washing machines and household washer-dryers that can be connected to the mains through an AC/DC converter purchased separately.

The requirements in points 1 to 6, 9(1)(a) and (c), and 9(2)(i) and (vii) of Annex II shall not apply to:

(a) household washing machines with a rated capacity lower than 2 kg;

(b) household washer-dryers with a rated washing capacity lower than 2 kg.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purpose of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:

(1) ‘mains’ or ‘electric mains’ means the electricity supply from the grid of 230 (± 10 %) volts of alternating current at 50 Hz;

(2) ‘automatic washing machine’ means a washing machine where the load is fully treated by the washing machine without the need for user intervention at any point during the programme;

(3) ‘household washing machine’ means an automatic washing machine which cleans and rinses household laundry by using water, chemical, mechanical and thermal means, which also has a spin extraction function, and which is declared by the manufacturer in the Declaration of Conformity as complying with Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (²) or with Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (³);

(4) ‘household washer-dryer’ means a household washing machine which, in addition to the functions of an automatic washing machine, in the same drum includes a means for drying the textiles by heating and tumbling, and which is declared by the manufacturer in the Declaration of Conformity as complying with Directive 2014/35/EU or with Directive 2014/53/EU;

(5) ‘built-in household washing machine’ means a household washing machine that is designed, tested and marketed exclusively: (a) to be installed in cabinetry or encased (top and/or bottom, and sides) by panels; (b) to be securely fastened to the sides, top or floor of the cabinetry or panels; and (c) to be equipped with an integral factory-finished face or to be fitted with a custom front panel;

(6) ‘built-in household washer-dryer’ means a household washer-dryer that is designed, tested and marketed exclusively: (a) to be installed in cabinetry or encased (top and/or bottom, and sides) by panels; (b) to be securely fastened to the sides, top or floor of the cabinetry or panels; and (c) to be equipped with an integral factory-finished face or to be fitted with a custom front panel;

(7) ‘multi-drum household washing machine’ means a household washing machine equipped with more than one drum, whether in separate units or in the same casing;

(8) ‘multi-drum household washer-dryer’ means a household washer-dryer equipped with more than one drum, whether in separate units or in the same casing;

(9) ‘equivalent model’ means a model which has the same technical characteristics relevant for the technical information to be provided, but which is placed on the market or put into service by the same manufacturer, importer or authorised representative as another model with a different model identifier;

(10) ‘model identifier’ means the code, usually alphanumeric, which distinguishes a specific product model from other models with the same trade mark or the same manufacturer's, importer's or authorised representative's name;

(11) ‘product database’ means a collection of data concerning products, which is arranged in a systematic manner and consists of a consumer-oriented public part, where information concerning individual product parameters is accessible by electronic means, an online portal for accessibility and a compliance part, with clearly specified accessibility and security requirements, as laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/1369;

(12) ‘eco 40-60’ means the name of the programme declared by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative as able to clean normally soiled cotton laundry declared to be washable at 40 °C or 60 °C, together in the same washing cycle, and to which the ecodesign requirements on energy efficiency, washing efficiency, rinsing effectiveness, programme duration, maximum temperature inside the laundry and water consumption relate;

(13) ‘programme’ means a series of operations that are pre-defined and which are declared by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative as suitable for washing, drying or continuously washing and drying certain types of textile;

(14) ‘washing cycle’ means a complete washing process as defined by a selected programme, consisting of a series of different operations including washing, rinsing, and spinning.

For the purpose of the annexes, additional definitions are set out in Annex I.

Article 3

Ecodesign requirements

The ecodesign requirements set out in Annex II and Annex VI shall apply from the dates indicated therein.

Article 4

Conformity assessment

Where the information included in the technical documentation for a particular model has been obtained:

(a) from a model that has the same technical characteristics relevant for the technical information to be provided but is produced by a different manufacturer, or

(b) by calculation on the basis of design or extrapolation from another model of the same or a different manufacturer, or both,

the technical documentation shall include the details of such calculation, the assessment undertaken by the manufacturer to verify the accuracy of the calculation and, where appropriate, the declaration of identity between the models of different manufacturers.

The technical documentation shall include a list of all equivalent models, including the model identifiers.

Article 5

Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes

Member States' authorities shall apply the verification procedure set out in Annex IV when performing the market surveillance checks referred to in point 2 of Article 3 of Directive 2009/125/EC.

Article 6

Circumvention and software updates

The manufacturer, importer or authorised representative shall not place on the market products designed to be able to detect they are being tested (for example by recognising the test conditions or test cycle) and to react specifically by automatically altering their performance during the test with the aim of reaching a more favourable level for any of the parameters in the technical documentation or included in any documentation provided.

The energy consumption of the product and any of the other declared parameters shall not deteriorate after a software or firmware update when measured with the same test standard originally used for the declaration of conformity, except with explicit consent of the end-user prior to the update. No performance change shall occur as a result of rejecting the update.

A software update shall never have the effect of changing the product's performance in a way that makes it non-compliant with the ecodesign requirements applicable for the declaration of conformity.

Article 7

Indicative benchmarks

The indicative benchmarks for the best-performing products and technologies available on the market at the time of adopting this Regulation are set out in Annex V.

Article 8

Review

The Commission shall review this Regulation in the light of technological progress and shall present the results of this review, including, if appropriate, a draft revision proposal, to the Consultation Forum by 25 December 2025.

The review shall in particular focus on the following:

(a) the improvement potential with regard to energy and environmental performance of household washing machines and household washer-dryers;

(b) the evolution of consumer behaviour and the feasibility of a mandatory feedback mechanism on the loading of the appliance and the energy consumption of the selected programme;

(c) the effectiveness of existing requirements on resource efficiency;

(d) the appropriateness of setting additional resource efficiency requirements for products in accordance with the objectives of the circular economy, including whether more spare parts should be included;

(e) the feasibility and appropriateness of new requirements on the automatic dosage of detergents and other additives;

(f) the feasibility and appropriateness of new requirements for reducing microplastics in the water outlet, such as filters.

Article 9

Amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008

In point 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008:

— the entry ‘Washing machines’ is deleted;

— the entry ‘Other appliances for cooking and other processing of food, cleaning, and maintenance of clothes’ is replaced by ‘Other appliances for cooking and other processing of food, cleaning and maintenance of clothes with the exception of household washing machines and household washer-dryers’.

Article 10

Repeal

Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010 is repealed as of 1 March 2021.

Article 11

Transitional measures

As from 25 December 2019 until 28 February 2021, by way of derogation to the requirement in point 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010, the indications of ‘Standard 60 °C cotton programme’ and ‘Standard 40 °C cotton programme’ shall not need to be displayed on the programme selection device of household washing machines or on the household washing machines display, if the following conditions are complied with:

— the ‘Standard 60 °C cotton programme’ and ‘Standard 40 °C cotton programme’ are clearly identifiable in the booklet of instructions and in the technical documentation with the meaning of point (2) of Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010; and

— the ‘eco 40-60’ programme is clearly displayed on the programme selection device of household washing machines or on the household washing machines display, in accordance with point 1(3) of Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 12

Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 March 2021. However, Article 6, first paragraph, and Article 11 shall apply from 25 December 2019.

Article 13

Transitional compliance equivalence

If no unit belonging to the same model or equivalent models was placed on the market before 1 November 2020, the units of models placed on the market between 1 November 2020 and 28 February 2021 which comply with the provisions of this regulation shall be considered compliant with the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 1015/2010.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEX I

The following definitions shall apply:

(1) ‘Energy Efficiency Index’ (EEI) means the ratio of the weighted energy consumption to the standard cycle energy consumption;

(2) ‘drying cycle’ means a complete drying process as defined by the required programme, consisting of a series of different operations including heating and tumbling;

(3) ‘complete cycle’ means a washing and drying process, consisting of a washing cycle and a drying cycle;

(4) ‘continuous cycle’ means a complete cycle without interruption of the process and with no need for user intervention at any point during the programme;

(5) ‘rated capacity’ means the maximum mass in kilogram stated by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative at 0,5  kg intervals of dry textiles of a particular type, which can be treated in one washing cycle of a household washing machine, or in one complete cycle of a household washer-dryer respectively, on the selected programme, when loaded in accordance with the manufacturer’s, importer’s or authorised representative’s instructions;

(6) ‘rated washing capacity’ means the maximum mass in kilogram stated by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative at 0,5  kg intervals of dry textiles of a particular type, which can be treated in one washing cycle of a household washing machine, or in one washing cycle of a household washer-dryer respectively, on the selected programme, when loaded in accordance with the manufacturer’s, importer’s or authorised representative’s instructions;

(7) ‘rated drying capacity’ means the maximum mass in kilogram stated by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative at 0,5  kg intervals of dry textiles of a particular type, which can be treated in one drying cycle of a household washer-dryer on the selected programme, when loaded in accordance with the manufacturer’s, importer’s or authorised representative’s instructions;

(8) ‘weighted energy consumption (EW)’ means the weighted average of the energy consumption of the washing cycle of a household washing machine or a household washer-dryer for the eco 40-60 programme at rated washing capacity, and at half and at a quarter of the rated washing capacity, expressed in kilowatt hour per cycle;

(9) ‘weighted energy consumption (EWD)’ means the weighted average of the energy consumption of the household washer-dryer for the wash and dry cycle at rated capacity and at half of the rated capacity, expressed in kilowatt hour per cycle;

(10) ‘wash and dry’ means the name of the complete cycle of a household washer-dryer, which consists of the eco 40-60 programme for the washing cycle, and of a drying cycle achieving cupboard dry status;

(11) ‘standard cycle energy consumption’ (SCE) means the energy consumption taken as a reference as a function of the rated capacity of a household washing machine or of a household washer-dryer, expressed in kilowatt hour per cycle;

(12) ‘weighted water consumption (WW)’ means the weighted average of the water consumption of the washing cycle of a household washing machine or of a household washer-dryer for the eco 40-60 programme at rated washing capacity, and at half and at a quarter of the rated washing capacity, expressed in litres per cycle;

(13) ‘weighted water consumption (WWD)’ means the weighted average of the water consumption of a household washer-dryer for the wash and dry cycle at rated capacity and at half of the rated capacity, expressed in litres per cycle;

(14) ‘washing efficiency index’ means the ratio of the washing efficiency of the washing cycle of a household washing machine or of a household washer-dryer (IW), or of the complete cycle of a household washer-dryer (JW), to the washing efficiency of a reference household washing machine;

(15) ‘rinsing effectiveness’ means the concentration of the residual content of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in the treated textiles after the washing cycle of a household washing machine or of a household washer-dryer (IR), or after the complete cycle of a household washer-dryer (JR), expressed in gram per kilogram of dry textile;

(16) ‘remaining moisture content’ means for household washing machines and for the washing cycle of household washer-dryers, the amount of moisture contained in the load at the end of the washing cycle;

(17) ‘final moisture content’ means for household washer-dryers the amount of moisture contained in the load at the end of the drying cycle;

(18) ‘cupboard dry’ means the status of treated textiles dried in a drying cycle to a final moisture content of 0 %;

(19) ‘programme duration’ (tW) means the length of time beginning with the initiation of the programme selected, excluding any user programmed delay, until the end of the programme is indicated and the user has access to the load;

(20) ‘cycle duration’ (tWD) means, for the complete cycle of a household washer-dryer, the length of time beginning with the initiation of the programme selected for the washing cycle, excluding any user programmed delay, until the end of the drying cycle is indicated and the user has access to the load;

(21) ‘off mode’ (Po) means a condition in which the household washing machine or the household washer-dryer is connected to the mains and is not providing any function; the following shall also be considered as off mode: (a) conditions providing only an indication of off mode; (b) conditions providing only functionalities intended to ensure electromagnetic compatibility pursuant to Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (⁴);

(22) ‘standby mode’ (Psm) means a condition where the household washing machine or the household washer-dryer is connected to the mains, and provides only the following functions, which may persist for an indefinite time: (a) reactivation function, or reactivation function and a mere indication of enabled reactivation function; and/or (b) reactivation function through a connection to a network; and/or (c) information or status display; and/or (d) detection function for emergency measures;

(23) ‘network’ means a communication infrastructure with a topology of links, an architecture, including the physical components, organisational principles, communication procedures and formats (protocols);

(24) ‘wrinkle guard function’ means an operation of the household washing machine or of the household washer-dryer after completion of a programme to prevent excessive wrinkle building in the laundry;

(25) ‘delay start’ (Pds) means a condition where the user has selected a specified delay to the beginning or end of the cycle of the selected programme;

(26) ‘spare part’ means a separate part that can replace a part with the same or similar function in a product;

(27) ‘professional repairer’ means an operator or undertaking which provides services of repair and professional maintenance of household washing machines or of household washer-dryers;

(28) ‘guarantee’ means any undertaking by the retailer or a manufacturer to the consumer to: (a) reimburse the price paid; (b) replace, repair or handle the household washing machine and the household washer-dryer in any way if they do not meet the specifications set out in the guarantee statement or in the relevant advertising;

(29) ‘declared values’ means the values provided by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative for the stated, calculated or measured technical parameters in accordance with Article 4, for the verification of compliance by the Member State authorities.

ANNEX II

1. PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS

From 1 March 2021, household washing machines and household washer-dryers shall meet the following requirements:

(1) household washing machines and household washer-dryers shall provide: (a) a washing cycle called ‘eco 40-60’, which is able to clean normally soiled cotton laundry declared to be washable at 40 °C or 60 °C, together in the same cycle; (b) a washing cycle called ‘20 °C’, which is able to clean lightly soiled cotton laundry, at a nominal temperature of 20 °C; these cycles shall be clearly identifiable on the programme selection, on the display and through the network connection, depending on the functionalities provided by the household washing machine or household washer-dryer;

(2) for the requirements set out in points 3(1), 3(3), 4(1), 4(2), 4(5), 5 and 6(1), the ‘eco 40-60’ programme shall be used;