Label to verify quality

03/12/2012

As many industries and businesses have not recognized that energy labeling is a competitive advantage, they have not been determined to renovate technology, nor to improve product quality. They fear that the investment will increase production costs. To address this problem, it is necessary to further strengthen the state management in both ways: by laws and by encouragement.

A necessary passport

Mr. Dang Hai Dung from the Science and Technology Division, General Department of Energy, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that in the period 2006 - 2011, under the direction of the Ministry, the pilot energy labeling activities were implemented for some products, such as fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and electric fans. However, efficiency was not high as very few companies registered for this certificate. As a result, by the first half of 2013 when the energy labeling becomes mandatory for the electrical equipment, congestion will be unavoidable for enterprises to queue for certificates and energy labeling.

Mr. To Dinh Thai, Bresl project coordinator, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the energy label is the "passport" to help enterprises send their products to consumers faster, consequently, improving market share, confirming the brand and image of companies in the market. At the same time, consumers will have the opportunity to identify and buy more reliable products, ultimately saving costs. Unfortunately, many companies still do not really care about this.

Mr. Le Dai Hai, Deputy Director of the Legal Department, the Justice Department said, administrative violations in energy label are still popular. The most typical is the act of using the energy label in wrong way, producing and importing products on the abandoned list. These violations are often punished very seriously by the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Specifically, anyone not implementing energy labeling for mandatory products or providing false information on the label compared to energy certificates can be fined from VND30 to 50 million; using wrong energy labels from VND5 - 10 million; improper labeling for certified products, or products that have not been certified from VND50 to 70 million; importing products of abandoned list from VND50 to 70 million; the last case will be subject to forced destruction and banned re-export. And the inspection and sanctioning of violations will be strengthened in the time to come.

Strengthening state management

Currently, most of the energy consuming products and equipment have the corresponding Vietnamese standards. The provisions relating to the legal framework of building energy labeling have been issued. On the other hand, the National Target Program on Energy Efficiency and Conservation has also set up policy to popularize and encourage consumers to use energy labeled products. Therefore, it is necessary for businesses to actively adapt to the rule immediately to meet the actual needs of consumers in the future.

The Government has required that public procurement programs give priority to the purchase of equipment with energy efficiency certificates. The incentives for consumers to use certified energy saving products and for businesses to implement energy labeling are ready. In other words, the "green light" is on. It is now the matter of how enterprises will take the initiative and adapt.

By Chau Giang

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