ErP Directive (2009/125/EC) for Lamps: Mandatory Eco-Design, Energy Efficiency Requirements & Certification Process

The ErP (Energy-related Products) Directive (2009/125/EC) is the EU’s mandatory regulation governing the eco-design and energy efficiency of energy-related products. As high-energy-consuming products, lamps must pass ErP testing and meet energy efficiency labeling regulations to be legally sold in the EU market.

I. Scope of Application of the ErP Directive

1. Applicable Product Types

• All grid-powered lamps (including LED lamps, fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, etc.);
• Lamps with control devices (e.g., dimmable LED lamps, smart lamps);
• Standalone light sources (e.g., LED bulbs, tubes).

 

Notes:

 

• Pure battery-powered lamps (e.g., flashlights) are not subject to the ErP Directive.
• Solar-powered lamps with grid-charging functionality must comply with ErP requirements.

2. Core Regulations

Regulation No.	Applicable Products	Key Requirements
EU 2019/2020	Light sources & standalone lamps	Minimum luminous efficacy (≥85 lm/W), lifespan (≥6000 hours), flicker control (SVM ≤1.0)
EU 2019/2015	Energy efficiency labeling	Mandatory A-G energy efficiency labels (A+, A++ grades abolished since 2023)
EU 2023/XXXX	Standby power (smart lamps)	Standby mode ≤0.5W, networked standby ≤2.0W

II. Core Items of ErP Energy Efficiency Testing

1. Basic Energy Efficiency Testing

Test Item	Test Standard	Qualification Criteria
Luminous Efficacy (lm/W)	EN 13032-1	≥85 lm/W (to be increased to 95 lm/W in 2025)
Color Rendering Index (CRI)	CIE 13.3	≥80 (retail lighting), ≥70 (industrial/outdoor lighting)
Power Factor (PF)	IEC 61000-3-2	≥0.9 (lamps with power ≥25W)
Flicker (SVM/Pst)	IEC TR 61547-1	SVM ≤1.0 (new 2025 regulation requires ≤0.4)

2. Durability Testing

Test Item	Test Standard	Qualification Criteria
Lifespan Test	IEC 62612	≥6000 hours (L70B50: 70% luminous flux maintenance rate + 50% survival rate)
Switch Cycle Test	IEC 60969	Normal functionality after 10,000 switch cycles
High-Temperature Aging Test	EN 62031	Operated at 85℃ for 1000 hours, luminous decay ≤10%

3. Additional Testing for Smart Lamps

• Standby power consumption: ≤0.5W (normal mode), ≤2.0W (networked standby);
• Network wake-up response: ≤1 second (e.g., Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules);
• Software energy efficiency mode: Low-power firmware description must be provided.

III. ErP Certification Process (5-Step Compliance)

Step 1: Confirm Applicable Regulations

• Ordinary lamps: EU 2019/2020 (eco-design) + EU 2019/2015 (energy efficiency labeling);
• Smart lamps: Additional compliance with EU 2023/XXXX (standby power consumption).

Step 2: Laboratory Testing

• Sample requirements: 3–5 mass-produced samples (including driver power supplies and control modules);
• Test cycle: 7–10 working days (if no rectification is required).

Step 3: Prepare Technical Documents

Document Type	Content Requirements
Technical Specification Sheet	Luminous flux, power, color temperature, protection class (IP), lifespan data
Energy Efficiency Test Report	Issued by an EU-accredited laboratory (e.g., TÜV, SGS, BV)
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)	Statement of compliance with EU 2019/2020 and EU 2019/2015
Energy Efficiency Label Document	Label design must comply with EU 2019/2015 (size, format, EPREL link)

Step 4: EPREL Database Registration

• Registration content: Upload test reports, technical documents, and energy efficiency labels;
• Obtain EPREL number: Must be printed on the product or its packaging.

Step 5: Market Compliance

• Product marking: CE mark + ErP energy efficiency label (A-G grade);
• Technical document retention: Keep for at least 10 years for inspection by EU market supervision authorities.

IV. Common Questions & Solutions

Q1: What is the relationship between ErP and CE certification?

• CE certification: Covers safety (LVD), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and environmental protection (RoHS);
• ErP certification: Focuses on energy efficiency (luminous efficacy, power consumption, lifespan);
• Both must be satisfied—neither can be omitted.

Q2: How to rectify if testing fails?

Issue	Cause	Solution
Insufficient luminous efficacy	Low-efficiency LED chips or optical design	Replace with high-luminous-efficacy LEDs; optimize lens/reflector design
Excessive standby power consumption	Leakage in power management circuit	Use low-power MCUs; optimize Wi-Fi module sleep mode
Lifespan test failure	Luminous decay caused by poor heat dissipation	Improve heat dissipation structure; use electrolytic capacitors rated ≥105℃

VI. Summary & Recommendations

• ErP certification is mandatory—failure to comply will result in product removal from shelves or fines;
• Core tests (luminous efficacy, standby power consumption, lifespan) must be conducted by EU-accredited laboratories;
• Energy efficiency labels: Must be registered on EPREL and printed on products;
• Lamps that pass ErP certification not only gain legal access to the EU market but also win government subsidies and consumer recognition through their high energy efficiency advantages.