Solid fuel local space heaters with a nominal heat output of less than 50 kW

Draft Decree of the Council of Ministers amending the Regulation on the additional measures related to the implementation of regulations adopted pursuant to Article 15 of Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products

In its judgment in Case C488/15, the Court of Justice of the European Union established that Bulgaria has failed to comply with the limit values for PM10 concentrations throughout its territory. In this regard, Bulgaria is required to take urgent and effective measures to put an end to exceedances of the air quality limit values.

The analysis of the current state of air quality in Bulgaria indicates that domestic heating is the main source of air pollution. The significant contribution of domestic heating comes from the widespread use of low quality local solid fuels, as well as of old and high-emission stoves.

In connection with the above findings, one of the measures put forward by the National Programme for the Improvement of Ambient Air Quality (2018-2024), adopted by Decision No 334/2019 of the Council of Ministers, is related to the earlier mandatory implementation on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria of the requirements of Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1185 of 24 April 2015 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for solid fuel local space heaters with a nominal heat output of less than 50 kW. The measure provides for the requirements of the Regulation to enter into force on the territory of Bulgaria on 1 January 2020 instead of on 1 January 2022. The measure is linked to another measure proposed in the national programme - for the mandatory gradual discontinuation of the use of solid fuel stoves not meeting the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2015/1185. This aims to ensure that inefficient heaters will be replaced with heaters that meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2015/1185 as soon as possible.

Bulgaria has consulted the European Commission on the early implementation of the requirements of Regulation (EC) 2015/1185. In his reply to Mr Emil Karanikolov, the Minister for Economy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr Dominique Ristori, the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Energy states that the early implementation of the requirements of the Regulation represents a national measure. He clarifies that until the date of entry into force of the new requirements, Member States may authorise the placing on the market and/or the putting into service of solid fuel stoves that meet the national requirements, as it is irrelevant whether these national requirements existed before the adoption of the Regulation with the new requirements or were introduced after the adoption of the Regulation. It is important that, from the date of entry into force of the Regulation, these national requirements be repealed or aligned with the requirements of the Regulation.