If you manufacture, import or distribute energy labeled products in EuropeEPREL is no longer optional or a mere bureaucratic formality: it's the gateway to legally selling in the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Northern Ireland. For some years now, the European Commission has established a highly structured system to ensure that every energy-consuming appliance is registered, validated, and accessible to both authorities and consumers.
In this article you will find a complete and straightforward explanation of what EPREL is, how device registration works, and what role the qualified electronic seal certificate (the so-called “EPREL certificate”) playsWhich products have to comply, how regulations have been tightened, and what steps you need to take in practice to avoid being left out of the European market.
What is EPREL and why does it exist?
EPREL is the acronym for European Product Database for Energy LabelingThis refers to the European database created by the Commission to centralize all information relating to the energy labelling of products. It is mandated by Regulation (EU) 2017/1369, which replaced the previous Directive 2010/30/EU and established a new framework for energy labelling in the EU.
The EPREL database is divided into two main partsThere is a public section, accessible to anyone, to view the models available on the market, and a compliance section, where suppliers upload technical data and where only market surveillance authorities and Commission staff have access. The objective is twofold: transparency for the consumer and oversight for the authorities.
The public part of EPREL allows that Any user can compare appliances based on their energy class, consumption, noise level, cycle duration, capacity, dimensions, and other parameters. Depending on the product type, you can access it by searching for a specific model or by scanning the QR code that appears on the new energy labels.
On the compliance side, the database collects detailed technical information that national authorities use to verify that products comply with labelling and ecodesign regulationsThis information is not visible to the general public and is protected, because it often contains sensitive data and even trade secrets.
Relationship between EPREL, energy label and European regulations
The energy label is now a classic in stores: that sticker with colored bars from A to G which indicates the efficiency of the appliance. What is perhaps less well known is that, since 2017, this label has been mandatorily linked to registration with EPREL.
Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 requires that Before placing any product subject to energy labelling on the EU market, the supplier must have registered it with EPREL.In fact, the label that the consumer sees is generated from the data recorded in this database, including the QR code that links directly to the product information sheet.
Since 2021, the energy efficiency scale has been simplified: The A+, A++ and A+++ classes have been eliminated and the pure A to G scale has been reinstatedwhere A is reserved for the most efficient products and G for the least efficient. This new scale is already being applied to, among others:
- Refrigerators for domestic and hotel use
- Refrigerators for commercial use and direct sale
- Domestic dishwashers
- Domestic washing machines and washer-dryers
- Televisions, computer monitors, and signage displays
- Light bulbs and lamps (light sources)
The label shows more than just the energy class: It also includes information such as annual consumption, noise level, water consumption, capacity, or specific parameters such as durability or repairability.which vary depending on the type of product. All of this comes from the data that the supplier has previously entered into EPREL.
Which products must be registered in EPREL?
The obligation to go through EPREL affects all energy-related products that are required to carry an EU energy labelfor both domestic and professional or commercial use. Second-hand products and means of transport for people or goods are not included, but a very wide range of appliances is.
Among the product groups currently registered on the EPREL platform are, among others:
- Local heaters and space heaters
- Solid fuel boilers and packages with temperature controls and solar devices
- Water heaters, hot water storage tanks and packages with solar devices
- Air conditioners and heat pumps
- Residential ventilation units
- Domestic extractor hoods and ovens
- Domestic washing machines and washer-dryers
- Domestic clothes dryers
- Domestic dishwashers
- Domestic and professional refrigeration appliances
- Refrigeration appliances with direct sales function (commercial refrigerators)
- Electronic displays (TV, monitors, signage)
- Light sources (bulbs, lamps, light fixtures)
- Tires, regulated by Regulation (EU) 2020/740
The standard applies to Household appliances, lighting systems, air conditioning, ventilation equipment, boilers, screens and other energy-consuming equipmentIf the product falls under any delegated energy labelling regulations, it must be registered.
From January 1, 2019, All suppliers established in the EU or the EEA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) must register with EPREL the products that require labeling before placing the first unit on the market. As a result of the Northern Ireland Protocol, this obligation also applies in that territory after 1 January 2021.
Manufacturers located in third countries (outside the EU/EEA and Northern Ireland) They cannot register directly with EPRELThey need an importer or an authorized representative established in one of those countries, who will act as the EPREL supplier and assume the legal obligations.
What is the EPREL certificate and why is it mandatory?
To register products in EPREL, it is not enough to create an account and fill out forms: The Commission requires the supplier to verify its identity using a qualified electronic seal certificate, issued by a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) in accordance with the eIDAS Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014).
This certificate is usually referred to colloquially as “EPREL certificate”Although technically it is a qualified electronic seal certificate for a legal entity, its function is twofold: firstly, to unequivocally identify the company that will register the products, and secondly, to allow it to generate qualified electronic seals on the documents that EPREL uses for verification.
Without this qualified certificate It is not possible to complete the supplier verification processWithout verification, you cannot register new models, modify existing records, or perform any operations on products in the database. This means your energy-labeled products cannot be legally sold in the EU, the EEA, or Northern Ireland.
The regulations have been gradually tightened. In March 2023, the European Commission began blocking suppliers who had not passed the verification process.preventing them from registering new models. And Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/994 sets even stricter requirements on the content of the certificate itself.
Key changes: from VAT to NTR/EUID in EPREL
Until the beginning of 2024, in practice Many EPREL certificates for Spanish companies used the NIF/CIF with VAT prefix as the organization identifier in the field organizationIdentifier of the certificate. That identifier had the format VATES-XXXXXXX.
With the adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/994, the Commission has established that, From April 22, 2025, the only accepted form of identity for legal entities will be the NTR (National Trade Register).This means that the certificate must include the identifier based on the national business register, aligned with the European Unique Identifier (EUID) of the BRIS system.
In practice, the field The organizationIdentifier of the qualified certificate must follow the structure:
- Identity type prefix: NTR
- Two-letter country code according to ISO 3166 (e.g., ES)
- Hyphen (-)
- EUID composed of: business registry identifier, period (.) and business registry number
A typical example of a format would be something like NTRES-ES28065.080862918In other words, the identifier based on VAT, LEI, PSD or other schemes will no longer be accepted after the deadline.
The regulation establishes a transitional period: Until April 22, 2025, certificates with other types of identity (VAT, LEI, PSD, etc.) may still be accepted.However, by April 22, 2027 at the latest, all these certificates will no longer be valid for EPREL. From then on, only certificates with NTR will be accepted.
This forces companies to Review your current EPREL certificates and plan for their renewal.If your certificate does not yet include the NTR/EUID, you will need to renew it with a qualified provider that generates certificates adapted to the new requirements. Some PCsCs, such as EADTrust or Firmaprofesional, have already adjusted their processes to issue legal entity certificates with the appropriate NTR identifier.
What is the difference between a regular digital certificate and an EPREL certificate?
In many cases, companies already use digital certificates to interact with government agencies or to sign documents, and the question arises whether they also work for EPREL. The answer is not always: the EPREL certificate is a very specific type of qualified certificate.
While a generic digital certificate can identify a natural or legal person for various procedures, The EPREL certificate must allow the generation of qualified electronic seals for legal entities., include the NTR/EUID identifier and comply in detail with the technical standards EN 319 412-1 and EN 319 412-3 for electronic seals.
For instance, It is not valid to simply use the qualified electronic signature of the legal representative To verify a legal entity in EPREL, because that signature does not provide proof of the entity's establishment in the EU. EPREL specifically requires qualified electronic seals based on certificates that contain the business registration number and the registration identifier.
In the case of individuals acting as suppliers (e.g., self-employed individuals), they are accepted qualified electronic signatures of natural personsbut accompanied by additional documentation that proves their registration in the commercial register, as well as, if applicable, the mandate of the manufacturer from outside the EU to act as an authorized representative.
Who needs an EPREL certificate
The obligation falls on all suppliers of energy labeled productsThe term "supplier" refers to the manufacturer, importer, or authorized representative in the EU/EEA/Northern Ireland. Without this certificate, the company cannot pass the EPREL verification procedure.
They need a qualified electronic seal certificate for EPREL, among others:
- Manufacturers established in the European Union or the EEA that sell products subject to energy labelling
- Importers who bring into the EU products manufactured in third countries
- Authorized representatives appointed by manufacturers from outside the EU, who act on their behalf to register products in EPREL
In practice, this means that any company that markets in Europe washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers, electronic displays and televisions, light bulbs and lamps, air conditioners, boilers, heaters, ventilation units, professional refrigeration equipment or tires You must have a valid EPREL certificate issued by a Qualified Trust Service Provider.
How the verification process works in EPREL
Once the company has its EPREL certificate, You must complete the verification procedure on the EPREL platform itself.This process is key because it draws the line between a verified supplier and an unverified supplier.
In the case of legal entities, the verification is based on a qualified electronic seal applied to a verification file generated by the platformThe flow, in simplified form, is as follows:
- The user with the supplier administrator role accesses the EPREL compliance system.
- Request a “verification file”, which is a PDF generated by the Commission with the organization's data.
- That PDF is arriving now electronically sealed by the European Commission, and the provider must download it.
- The company seals that PDF with its qualified electronic seal certificate for legal entities, using compatible software (for example, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, which allows applying signatures and seals).
- The sealed PDF is uploaded back to the EPREL platform.
- EPREL automatically validates the electronic seal, checks that the data matches (name, country, NTR/EUID identifier) and, if everything is correct, marks the supplier as “verified” in a matter of minutes.
If any error occurs (for example, the organization name does not exactly match the certificate name, or the identifier is incorrect), The platform returns a message indicating the cause of the failure.With that information, the provider can correct the data or review the certificate and repeat the process until the verification is complete.
Since February 2022, EPREL has used this automatic verification system based on qualified electronic seals, which makes the process relatively agile as long as the certificate is correct. The verification process also extends to suppliers outside the EU who act through representatives or established importers..
Registration of the company and products in EPREL
In addition to the certificate, there is an administrative process that every supplier must follow. The first step is to create an EU Login accountThe European Commission's authentication system. This account provides access to both the EPREL guidelines and the registration database.
From there, the supplier must:
- Register your organization with EPRELproviding the company's basic information (company name, country, contact details, etc.)
- Complete the electronic verification process using the EPREL certificate, as explained above
- Designate internal users and roles to manage model records and technical documentation
Once the organization has been verified, Now it's time to register each product modelEPREL requires the introduction of the necessary parameters to generate both the energy label and the product information sheet: consumption, energy classes, capacities, noise, dimensions and, in addition, supporting technical documentation for possible conformity controls.
For each model, the following aspects, among others, must be included:
- All parameters required by the specific delegated regulation of the product group (for example, washing machines, televisions, etc.)
- The date of introduction to the market of the first unit of the model (in CET/CEST)
- The technical documentation necessary for market surveillance authorities to verify compliance
- Optionally, additional data such as the GTIN, the Member States where it is marketed, or information on smart functionalities, if EPREL allows it.
La market launch completion date (i.e., when a model is discontinued) can be added at the time of registration if it is already known, or entered later, within 90 days of the model being discontinued. This date will be relevant for matters such as the obligation to supply spare parts or software updates.
Obligations of manufacturers, importers and distributors
Regulation 2017/1369 not only places obligations on suppliers when registering products in EPREL; It also imposes clear obligations on distributors. to ensure that labeling information reaches the consumer correctly.
From the supplier's side (manufacturer/importer/authorized representative), the main obligations are:
- Register the company in EPREL and complete the verification with a valid qualified certificate
- Register each affected model before introducing the first unit to the EU market
- Generate the energy label from EPREL and attach it to the product or its packaging. as required by each regulation (e.g., tires, screens, etc.)
- Provide distributors with the EPREL registration number of the modelso that they can access the label and product information
- Keep data up to date, including the end-of-marketing date and contact points for public and compliance matters.
On the part of distributors, including those who sell online or remotely, the obligations include:
- Display the energy label visibly at the point of sale, along with the product price
- In distance selling, display either the full label or an arrow indicating the energy class that links to the label and the product information sheet
- Ensure the QR code on the label is readableso that the consumer can scan it and consult the information in EPREL
- Use the EPREL registration number provided by the supplier to access official resources (label, data sheet) in all necessary languages
EPREL also demands that each provider designates specific points of contact in the database:
- A point of contact for the general public (customer service, usage inquiries and support), with a generic email address without personal data
- A point of contact for compliance matters (cooperation with market surveillance authorities), including a physical address in the EU, telephone number, and generic email address.
These points of contact may vary by model, region, or language, but the supplier is responsible for ensuring that the information is always up-to-date and accurate.
What happens if you are not verified or do not register correctly?
The European Commission has wanted to make it very clear that EPREL is not a simple voluntary repositoryImplementing Regulation 2024/994 itself establishes what happens to unverified suppliers and models.
A supplier is considered not verified if you have not yet successfully completed the verification procedure, if your certificate does not meet the requirements (for example, it does not incorporate NTR when it is already mandatory) or if you miss the renewal deadlines set by the Commission.
The practical consequences for models registered by unverified providers are significant:
- The products do not appear in the search results of the public section of EPRELThis hinders transparency and can generate distrust.
- If someone accesses the product information sheet through the QR code, A warning is displayed indicating that the model belongs to an unverified supplier.
- It is possible that No new registrations or modifications of models are allowed. until the supplier is verified again
- National authorities may block the marketing of new models and initiate market surveillance activities
In addition, EPREL establishes mechanisms for Mark as completed market introduction of all models of a supplier that loses its verified status due to inactivity or lack of response to the Commission's requirements.
Regarding sanctions, although the database and European regulations set the framework, The specific fines and coercive measures depend on the transposition and application in each Member StateIn any case, the risk of having products held up or rejected by distributors is in itself a strong incentive to catch up.
Qualified providers and services to process the EPREL certificate
The qualified electronic seal certificates required by EPREL They can only be issued by Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs)These certificates are supervised under the eIDAS Regulation. Not all countries have providers available to issue this type of certificate, which complicates matters for some companies.
This is the case of countries like Denmark, Sweden or the United Kingdom, where there are currently no qualified local providers issuing electronic seal certificates for EPREL, so many companies turn to providers from other Member States.
In Spain, for example, Firmaprofesional and EADTrust are among the entities that offer certificates specifically prepared for EPRELThese entities function as PCSCs and can issue certificates for both Spanish companies and companies from other countries that need to comply with European regulations.
Some providers offer additional solutions, such as Firmacloud, Firmaprofesional's cloud-based custody platformThis allows for the centralized and secure storage of the EPREL certificate, without relying on physical cards or tokens. With this type of solution, the certificate:
- It is always accessible from different devices and environments., under the exclusive control of the holder
- It is issued quickly once the video identification is completed and the representation documentation has been reviewed.
- Prevent loss or theft of physical cryptographic devices and allows for more flexible use within the organization
Other providers, such as EADTrust, integrate the legal entity certificate into eToken-type cryptographic devices When opting for more traditional scenarios, it also guarantees that the certificate meets the NTR/EUID requirements now demanded by EPREL.
Apart from the purely certificate-related part, Sectoral associations and technology centers have created support services to help companies, especially SMEs, understand and apply the regulations. This is the case with agreements between entities such as SUNREUSE and the AIDIMME technology institute, which offer technical and registration advice for manufacturers of luminaires, lamps, and other lighting equipment.
How to obtain an EPREL certificate in practice
The specific process varies slightly depending on the provider, but in general It follows a fairly similar pattern. when processing a Qualified Electronic Seal Certificate for EPREL:
- Gather the documentation of the company and the legal representative: articles of incorporation, powers of attorney, identification data, proof of registration in the commercial register, etc.
- Request the certificate from the qualified provider, expressly indicating that it is needed for EPREL, so that the field is configured correctly organizationIdentifier with NTR/EUID.
- Perform identity verification of the representative or the signatory of the contract, which is usually done through remote or in-person video identification, depending on the provider.
- Once the application is approved, the provider issues the electronic seal certificateeither on a cryptographic device (card, token) or hosted on a cloud platform under secure custody.
- With the certificate available, the company can now complete the verification process in EPREL and start registering models.
Some service providers, such as Firmaprofesional with its combination of videoID + FirmacloudThese systems allow the entire process to be completed in a matter of hours if the representation documentation is in order and the European or national systems (such as commercial registers) are operational. This can be critical for companies that need to register products urgently to avoid delaying commercial launches.
In any case, it is highly recommended Don't wait until the last minute to renew or apply for the EPREL certificate, especially taking into account the mandatory changes towards NTR/EUID and the deadlines set by Implementing Regulation 2024/994.
In the end, EPREL has become a central piece of the European energy labelling ecosystemIt protects consumers, brings transparency to the market, and ensures that the information reaching stores (both physical and online) is verifiable and traceable. For companies in the energy and appliance sectors, a thorough understanding of how device registration works, what the EPREL certificate requires, and how to adapt to regulatory changes is now part of daily operations if they want to continue functioning smoothly within the European Union.