EC Targets Low Voltage Directive with 2nd Survey

The European Commission wants response to a survey on the Low Voltage Directive by April 4. This is a second recent survey; the first ended January 10 (PSL, 12/17/18).

The EC writes that the goal of the survey (bit.ly/2FuVnvf) is assessing whether the directive "is fit for purpose in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value." It also wants to know need for related fixes.

It explains, "The public consultation is a tool to identify potential difficulties in the implementation that may require regulatory or/and non-regulatory corrective measures."

Before the first survey, review of the directive dates at least back to 2017, when the commission published a roadmap (bit.ly/2svnYrJ) that laid out issues that might need addressing. Comments to that document are at bit.ly/2W0pFec and deal with matters like test labs, desire for "legal stability," and compliance assurances.

The directive covers products with rated voltages of 50-1,000V (AC) or 75-1,500V (DC). The new survey says covered products include electric ovens, washing and drying machines, toasters, televisions, printers, and lamps. But it also emphasized that the list is far from exhaustive.