Limits set by the EU to regulate the maximum power of kettles and toasters may stay in UK law despite Brexit, according to a report by the Committee on Climate Change. The Government’s official climate advisers warned that relaxing energy efficiency standards would be bad for consumers and manufacturers. This would be due to jeopardised emissions-reduction targets, reduced export opportunities for UK manufacturers and the creation of a possible dumping ground in the UK for inefficient products.

Key Takeaways:

• Britain will still adopt EU plans to ban high powered kettles and toasters, despite the Brexit vote.
• The EU delayed the introduction of its “ecodesign” rules until after the Brexit vote in the hope of avoiding handing ammunition to Leave campaigners that accused it of meddling.
• Even if the UK ditched EU efficiency standards, consumers might find themselves with no option but to buy more efficient products anyway, since international manufacturers might not make separate high-powered products for the UK market.

“In a report on the implications of Brexit, the Government’s official climate advisers warned that retaining weaker energy efficiency standards for consumer goods in the UK would jeopardise emissions-reduction plans and be bad for consumers and manufacturers alike.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/10/12/climate-advisers-pour-cold-water-on-idea-of-high-powered-kettles/