The gas appliances sector plays an important role in the EU economy and is estimated to employ around half a million people. Recent studies have shown that the current EU stock of gas appliances is 470 million and growing, with more than 30 million units being sold annually.

The sector, regulated by Regulation (EU) 2016/426 on appliances burning gaseous fuels (GAR) (which has replaced Directive 2009/142/EC as from 21 April 2018), covers a wide range of products, from simple portable cookers to boilers for big buildings, concerning mainly common consumer and commercial appliances that burn gaseous fuels.

The GAR contributes considerably to the smooth functioning of the single market by ensuring the free movement of appliances burning gaseous fuels, through harmonisation of the conditions for the placing on the market and/or putting into service of products covered with regard to gas safety and rational use of energy.

Challenges faced by the sector

There is a strong demand amongst the sector's stakeholders for ensuring consistency of the legal provisions which are commonly used in EU product harmonisation legislation to better define the obligations of economic operators and to reinforce market surveillance to protect business against unfair competition.

As response to this need, the 'New legislative framework' for marketing of products was designed to help the internal market for goods work better and to strengthen and modernize the conditions for placing a wide range of industrial products on the EU market.

Moreover, the gas appliances manufacturing industry emphasises the need for a stable, predictable, coherent and simpler/smarter regulatory environment.

What the Commission is doing

The European Commission promotes the global and sustainable competitiveness of the gas appliances sector by assessing the challenges and taking necessary action.

The Commission coordinates and monitors the implementation and interpretation of the Gas Appliances Regulation, as well as managing the sector's standardisation work.

• More on the Gas Appliances Regulation (GAR)

Contact points

Links to other Commission websites

Brexit

• See specific sectoral guidance notices for stakeholders