The European Parliament approved, on 25 November, a new scheme setting energy efficiency, safety and noise labelling requirements for new tyres. Earlier, the EP’s Industry Committee (ITRE) had backed the draft regulation that now awaits formal adoption by the Council. It will effectively mean that, from November 2012, all new tyres on sale in the EU must be classified and labelled for fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise performance. The labels are similar to those required for household appliances.

“In the future, one will be able to tell straight away what tyres are especially energy efficient, safe or quiet. That promotes manufacturers’ desire to innovate,” said Herbert Reul, chair of the ITRE committee. Rapporteur Ivo Belet (EPP, Belgium) adds that costs to manufacturers should be minimal. “The new labelling system is a straightforward measure with great advantages for the environment and consumers.”

“A labelling scheme only works when the worst as well as the best products can be compared,” believes Nina Renshaw from Transport & Environment (T&E). Much, though, depends on how member states implement the legislation and how wholesalers and retailers respond to it. “People can save money, improve their safety, reduce noise and help the environment, but only if they actually see the label and it is explained properly,” added Renshaw.

The new regulation means that from 1 November 2012, suppliers of tyres for passenger cars, light and heavy duty vehicles (C1, C2 and C3 tyres) must inform consumers about fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise classes in any technical promotional material, including web sites. Tyres fitted with a new tread, off-road professional tyres and racing tyres are exempt from the requirement. From 1 July 2012, all new C1 and C2 tyres must have a sticker or be accompanied by the label when distributed from the factory to a shop or a garage.

The new regulation also includes a re-designed noise pictogram indicating the level of external rolling noise by ascending numbers of black waves emitted from a speaker. Tyres producing noise levels below 68 decibels, for example, will receive one black and two white waves next to the value in decibels.

Ahead of the plenary vote in the Parliament, the Council had formally adopted, on 20 November, its common position on the regulation on the labelling of tyres for fuel efficiency. The new legislation on tyres was one of three elements in an energy efficiency package that the Swedish EU Presidency sought to complete by the December Energy Council. This has now been achieved. The Council Presidency and European Parliament negotiators reached political agreement over the other two key elements, on 18 November, as to the energy labelling regulation (amending Directive 92/75/EEC) and a revised Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings.