KEEP ENERGY LABELS SIMPLE DEMANDS NORTH EAST MEP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Sep 2009

A North East MEP, has attacked a European Commission Consumer Survey on energy labelling of consumer goods as "a blatant distortion" of public opinion and pledged to continue her fight for simple and easy to understand energy labels.

The D-G Energy and Transport survey was formally presented to MEPs on the Industry, Research and Energy Committee today (30th September), and controversially concludes that public opinion backs the new "A-40%" system which the Commission has long supported. This would replace the current A-G classification with which consumers are familiar. An "A+" option was also surveyed.

However, Which? magazine has today (30th September) published its own survey which finds public opinion leaning strongly in the opposite direction, with 86% of people finding A-G easy to understand, and 59% prefer it to either of the two alternatives.

Lib Dem MEP Fiona Hall played a key role in the European Parliament's vote in May to reject the proposed new energy efficiency labels, forcing the European Commission to put its plans on hold to conduct a consumer survey on the new label and its design.

Fiona said:

"The Commission is playing fast and loose on energy labelling. Current labelling is consistent, familiar and easy to understand; the alternatives are complex and confusing.

"That's what Which? has found, that's what I'm told by my constituents and that's why the European Parliament has already voted against the Commission's labelling proposals.

"It's also why A-G has become the global energy efficiency standard."

Fiona also drew attention to the methodology used by the Commission:

"The Commission found that the new and complex techniques are favoured among 'those who understood the model they were confronted with' but what about all those who couldn't understand the new models?

"Will the Commission send officials to help every citizen who struggles to make sense of the new system?

"We need the A-G label to remain as the design standard, with updates to the criteria as standards improve.

"The Commission should be on the citizen's side, not skewing research in the lobbyists' favour.

"I will continue my fight against the proposed new energy labels. Common sense must prevail on this issue. Consumers want and deserve simple and easy to understand information on the energy efficiency of appliances they purchase. "