Council of the European Union Brussels, 23 August 2021 (OR. en) 11318/21 MI 614 ENT 134 COMPET 595 CONSOM 178 COVER NOTE From: Secretary-General of the European Commission, signed by Ms Martine DEPREZ, Director date of receipt: 14 August 2021 To: Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union No. Cion doc.: SWD(2021) 202 final Subject: COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EVALUATION of the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU Delegations will find attached document SWD(2021) 202 final. Encl.: SWD(2021) 202 final 11318/21 AP/nm ECOMP.3.A EN EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 14.7.2021 SWD(2021) 202 final COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EVALUATION of the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU {SWD(2021) 203 final} EN EN Table of contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose of the evaluation ............................................................................................................ 1 Scope of the evaluation ............................................................................................................... 2 2 BACKGROUND TO THE INTERVENTION ..................................................................................... 2 Description of the Low Voltage Directive and its objectives ...................................................... 2 Previous Low Voltage Directives and changes introduced by the current Directive (LVD) ...... 3 3 IMPLEMENTATION / STATE OF PLAY .......................................................................................... 5 Relevant Bodies ........................................................................................................................... 5 Guidelines.................................................................................................................................... 6 European standardisation ............................................................................................................ 6 4 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................ 6 Data collection and consultation strategy .................................................................................... 6 Data analysis methodology ......................................................................................................... 7 Statistical data on products in the scope of the LVD .................................................................. 7 Cost-benefit analysis ................................................................................................................... 8 5 ANALYSIS OF THE LVD MARKET ................................................................................................. 8 Economic importance in the EU ................................................................................................. 8 Intra- and extra-EU trade in low voltage products ...................................................................... 9 Consumption of low voltage products ....................................................................................... 11 6 TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE LOW VOLTAGE MARKET ........................... 11 Technological innovations: connected systems and the internet of things ................................ 12 E-Commerce.............................................................................................................................. 12 7 ANALYSIS AND ANSWERS TO THE EVALUATION QUESTIONS .......................................... 12 Findings in relation to the Effectiveness of the Directive ......................................................... 12 Findings in relation to the Efficiency of the Directive .............................................................. 23 Findings in relation to relevance ............................................................................................... 28 Findings in relation to the Coherence of the Directive (LVD) .................................................. 32 Findings in relation to the EU Added Value of the LVD .......................................................... 36 8 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................................. 38 9 ANNEXES .......................................................................................................................................... 40 ANNEX 1 .................................................................................................................................. 40 ANNEX 2 .................................................................................................................................. 41 ANNEX 3 .................................................................................................................................. 58 ANNEX 4 .................................................................................................................................. 68 ANNEX 5 .................................................................................................................................. 72 ANNEX 6 .................................................................................................................................. 76 1 2 Glossary Term or acronym Meaning or definition A&I Accidents and injuries AdCo Administrative Cooperation (Group) CEN European Committee for Standardization CENELEC European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization Directorate-General for Growth - Internal Market, Industry, DG GROW Entrepreneurship and SMEs EEA European Economic Area EFTA European Free Trade Association EHSR Essential Health and Safety Requirements EMCD Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU ENs European Standards EU European Union FTE Full-Time Equivalent hENs Harmonised European Standards IEC International Electrotechnical Commission IoT Internet of Things LVD Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU Interim evaluation of the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU Evaluation study Final Report by Ecorys, Valdani Vicari & Associati, Deloitte MD Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC MME Manufacture of Machinery and Equipment MSA Member States Authorities NA New Approach (European) Classification of Economic Activities (Nomenclature NACE statistique des Activités économiques dans la Communauté Européenne) NLF New Legislative Framework OJEU Official Journal of the European Union Safety Gate/RAPEX Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products 3 RED Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU REFIT (Commission's) Regulatory Fitness and Performance RfUs Recommendation for Use sheets 4 1 INTRODUCTION Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits1, commonly known as the Low Voltage Directive (LVD), hereafter the Directive, is one of the core Union legislation regulating products of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Industries, alongside the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU2 (RED) and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU3 (EMCD). PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION The first Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC4) was adopted in 1973. It was later amended5 and then codified and replaced by a second Low Voltage Directive (2006/95/EC6) which in turn was repealed and replaced by the current Low Voltage Directive 2014/53/EU. The purpose of this evaluation is to analyse the performance of the Low Voltage Directive towards its objectives of facilitating the free movement of electrical equipment across the Union and protecting consumers' and users' health and safety. The evaluation assesses the extent to which the Directive is fit for purpose, hence continues to deliver effectively, efficiently and at minimum cost the intended benefits for consumers and business. The evaluation is supported by an external study (hereafter evaluation study)7, commissioned by DG GROW and conducted from June 2018 to June 2019. It should be noted that any data 1 Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (OJ L 96, 29.3.2014, p. 357). 2 Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC (OJ L 153, 22.5.2014, p. 62). 3 Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility (OJ L 96, 29.3.2014, p. 79). 4 Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (Low-voltage Directive), available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Al21015b. 5 Council Directive 93/68/EEC of 22 July 1993 amending Directives 87/404/EEC (simple pressure vessels), 88/378/EEC (safety of toys), 89/106/EEC (construction products), 89/336/EEC (electromagnetic compatibility), 89/392/EEC (machinery), 89/686/EEC (personal protective equipment), 90/384/EEC (non-automatic weighing instruments), 90/385/EEC (active implantable medicinal devices), 90/396/EEC (appliances