WASHING MACHINE MAKERS' ENERGY-SAVINGS PACT CLEARED UNDER COMPETITION RULES.

The European Commission has exempted an agreement between virtually all European manufacturers and importers of washing machines from the normal ban on anti-competitive agreements under EU competition law, it announced on February 11. The Commission says the agreement will bring about important consumer benefits, in particular reductions of polluting emissions from electricity generation. The exemption is granted until the expiry of the agreement, on December 31, 2001.The decision, on a proposal from Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, concerns the notification in October 1997 by the European Council of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (CECED) of an agreement amongst most of its members. The agreement is designed to reduce the energy consumption of domestic washing machines and thereby reduce polluting emissions from power generation. To achieve these objectives, participants, which account for more than 95% of the EU market, will stop producing for and importing into the EU the least energy-efficient machines. Such machines are labelled under energy categories D to G, under Commission Directive 95/12/EC. Participants also undertake to promote consumer...