15.12.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L3321 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 2422/2001 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 6 November 2001 on a Community energy efficiency labelling programme for office equipment THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3), Whereas: (1)  Office equipment accounts for a significant share of total electricity consumption. The most effective measure for reducing electrical consumption of office equipment is to reduce the standby consumption in accordance with the Council conclusions of May 1999 on standby losses of consumer electronic equipment. The various models available on the Community market have very different levels of consumption in standby mode. (2)  There are, however, other measures for reducing elec- tricity consumption from such equipment, such as switching it off when not needed, without compromising functionality. The Commission should ascertain which measures are appropriate in order also to exploit this energy-saving potential. (1) OJ C150E, 30.5.2000, p. 73 and O] C 180 E, 26.6.2001, p. 262. (3 OJ C 204, 18.7.2000, p. 18. (%) Opinion of the European Parliament of 1 February 2001 (O] C 267, 21.9.2001, p. 49), Council Common Position of 31 May 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Decision of the European Parliament of 3 October 2001. G) It is important to promote measures aimed at the proper functioning of the internal market. It is desirable to coordinate the national energy labelling initiatives to minimise the adverse impact on industry and trade. It is appropriate to take as a base a high level of protection in proposals for the approximation of the provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning health, safety, environmental protection and consumer protection. This Regulation contributes to a high level of protection for both the environment and the consumer, in aiming at a significant improvement of the energy efficiency of this type of equipment. Since the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of pro- portionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives. Moreover, Article 174 of the Treaty calls for the protection and improvement of the environment and prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources, these two objectives being among those of the Com- munity policy on the environment. Electricity generation and consumption account for 30 % of man-made carbon dioxide (CO,) emissions and some 35 % of primary energy consumption in the Community. These percent- ages are increasing, and standby losses from electrical equipment account for about 10 % of its consumption.