EPREL: the EU energy efficiency register explained to distributors

EPREL — European Product Registry for Energy Labelling. Since 2021, manufacturers and importers of energy-using products have been required to register their products in this European database. In 2026, the requirements will be expanded. Here’s what retailers need to know.

What is EPREL?

EPREL is the European Union’s official register for energy labelling, managed by the European Commission. It centralises technical information on products subject to energy labelling — those A to G labels you find on household appliances, televisions, light bulbs and an increasing number of other products.

The aim is to enable consumers, retailers and authorities to verify the actual energy performance of products and to combat misleading claims.

Who is affected?

The registration requirement mainly applies to suppliers(manufacturers and importers) who place products on the European market. Butretailersalso have obligations:

• Display the energy label on online product pages (with a link to the EPREL product page)
• Not to sell products whose displayed label does not match the EPREL registration
• For retailers importing directly from third countries: registration obligations similar to those of manufacturers

Which products are affected?

Categories currently covered by EPREL (non-exhaustive list):

• Washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers
• Fridges and freezers
• Televisions and monitors
• Light sources (LED bulbs, fluorescent tubes, etc.)
• Air conditioners, heat pumps
• Water heaters and storage water heaters
• Vacuum cleaners (from 2021)
• External speakers (from 2023)

The list is gradually expanding — other categories are currently being incorporated into the Ecodesign Regulation.

What the EPREL register contains

For each registered product, EPREL stores:

• The energy class (A to G on the new scale)
• Measured performance parameters (kWh consumption, noise, capacity, etc.)
• The Product Information Sheet
• An image of the energy label
• Supplier and model details

Each product is assigned a unique EPREL identifier. Retailers must display this EPREL link on their online product pages to allow customers to access the full product information sheet.

Obligations for e-commerce retailers

Under EU Regulation 2017/1369, online retailers must display:

• The energy label (image) on the product page
• The energy class in a clearly visible manner
• A link to the product’s EPREL technical data sheet

These requirements apply to all platforms — own websites, marketplaces (Amazon, Fnac, Cdiscount). Marketplaces are gradually incorporating these requirements into their listing specifications.

How ProductsManager manages EPREL data

ProductsManager integrates EPREL management into the Compliance module:

• EPREL ID field— a standardised attribute for storing the EPREL identifier for each product
• Supplier import— if your suppliers include the EPREL ID in their catalogue files, automatic mapping extracts and stores it
• Energy class— structured attribute with validation (A to G or A+++ to D according to the old scale for products in stock)
• Push to channels— the EPREL ID and energy class are included in exports to marketplaces that require them (Amazon, Fnac, Cdiscount)
• Completeness alert— products in EPREL categories without an ID entered are flagged in the compliance dashboard

Link to the Digital Product Passport

EPREL is, in a sense, a precursor to the Digital Product Passport (DPP) provided for by the Ecodesign Regulation 2024/1781. The key difference:

• EPREL covers only the energy-related aspects of certain categories
• The DPP will cover all sustainability data (materials, reparability, end-of-life) across a much broader range of products

The EPREL data you manage today can be reused in your future DPP — structuring it in advance within a PIM facilitates this transition.

Points to watch out for for retailers

• Incorrect supplier data— check that the EPREL ID provided by your supplier corresponds to the exact product (model, colour, capacity). Energy class errors may result in penalties.
• Old vs new scale— since March 2021, white goods have used the new A-G scale. Older stock may still carry the old labels. The PIM must manage this coexistence.
• Products imported from outside the EU— if you import directly from non-European manufacturers who have not registered their products in EPREL, you may be considered a “supplier” and have registration obligations.