Define your role

Ecodesign and energy labelling regulations contain different requirements for suppliers, distributors and installers.

Therefore, please consider these roles: 

  • Supplier 
    A supplier means either: 
    • Manufacturer
      A manufacturer produces products OR has them produced by others and places them on the EU market under his own name/trademark.  
    • Authorised representative
      An entity with written consent from a manufacturer outside the EU to act on their behalf.  
    • Importer 
      An entity that imports products and places them on the EU market (either for money or free of charge). 
  • Distributor/wholesaler
    Any economic operator in the EU supply chain who makes products available on the market and is not an importer or manufacturer.

    A wholesaler is a middle link in the supply chain. A wholesaler is typically a company that purchases large quantities of goods directly from manufacturers or producers and resells them in smaller quantities to retailers, professional users such as installers, or other wholesalers. Wholesalers generally do not sell directly to end-consumers. As part of their responsibilities, wholesalers must, for example, comply with energy labelling requirements when preparing technical sales material and related documentation.
  • Installer
    An installer is installing, setting up, fitting etc. products on the EU market. The products are typically being imported by a supplier and sold by a dealer. However, in many cases, the installer purchases the product from a wholesaler and sells it directly to the end-consumer. In such cases, the installer assumes the same obligations as a dealer regarding the energy labelling and ecodesign regulations. 
  • Dealer 
    A retailer or other natural or legal person who offers for sale, hire, or hire purchase, or displays products to customers or installers in the course of commercial activity, whether or not in return for payment. 

Please note that economic operators can have several roles and therefore must meet several requirements. A dealer has the same obligations as a supplier, if the dealer e.g., imports products.  And a supplier has the same obligations as a dealer if the supplier e.g. import products and sells them to customers.