Meeting of Ministers and Energy Directors of the Member States of the Central American Integration System (SICA)
Background:
In 2007, the governments of Central America (CA) approved the Central American Sustainable Energy Strategy 2020, with the support of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC). The strategy encompasses four goals linked to Energy Efficiency (EE), from which one specifically targets the improvement of EE in lighting, refrigerators and industrial electric motors. To meet this goal, several Member States of the Central American Integration System (known as “SICA”) have started to work independently in the design of EE regulations and practices. At the regional level, some efforts have taken place as well, in 2016; the SICA Member States developed the Central American Technical Regulation (RTCA) on energy efficiency, which establishes minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), testing methods, and performance labels for household appliances and equipment.
The RTCA is a direct response by the SICA member states to support energy efficiency and conservation in the region and to advance towards the sustainable energy strategy. Likewise, under the framework of the Mesoamerican Program for Rational and Efficient Use of Energy (PMUREE), Mesoamerican countries which include all SICA member states, developed a general conformity assessment procedure (CAP), in order to facilitate and guide the product certification bodies, inspection bodies, testing laboratories, manufacturers, importers, marketers and others interested in determining the degree of compliance of the products with the Technical Regulations on energy efficiency. The procedure is applicable both to the products of national manufacture and imported products applicable Technical Regulation.
In parallel since 2011, the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) of the OAS and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have been supporting metrology efforts in renewable energies and energy efficiency for the Americas, and currently both institutions have a project on Advancing Metrology for Energy Efficient Measurement and Compliance in CA (known as “M4EE”). Developing energy efficiency regulations requires a coordinated and concerted action among policy makers, regulators and the quality infrastructure community, which encompasses metrology, normalization and conformity assessment. From the metrology perspective, it requires adequate infrastructure, accurate traceability, calibration and measurement capabilities, and adherence to internationally recognized measurement standards, which is supported by the National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) of the Central American Metrology Region (CAMET). Similarly, conformity assessments procedures (CAPs) are needed to determine that relevant requirements in technical regulations or standards are fulfilled. Thus, M4EE seeks to strengthen capabilities and knowledge of government officials and technical stakeholders to address energy efficiency’s measurement and conformity assessments for equipment and appliances —these skills will enable a more effective design and implementation of energy efficiency technical regulations at the national and regional level.
One component of M4EE includes specific support to SICA’s harmonization efforts. For this purpose, CLASP was contracted by the OAS to review and analyze the draft technical regulation for Luminaries Destined for Roads and Public Foreign Areas and the PEC, with the objective of identifying the strengths and weaknesses in the formulation of the RTCA and the CAPs and allowing a more efficient planning of activities to support SICA. CLASP delivered a report presenting the findings which include a general description of international best practices in conformity assessment for import economies – relevant to SICA member states – and recommendations for the Conformity Assessment Procedure. It also includes the current trends in the international market of LED luminaires, a general description of the development of MEPS for lighting products and the result of the revision and recommendations of the Technical Regulations. Based on this analysis a follow up activity that aims to officially present the recommendations to the RTCA and the CAPs as well as to address important topics for the development of the RTCA and CAPs such as conformity assessment best practices (for import economies), best practices in MEMPS development, development of a regional product registry to facilitate conformity assessment, technical and economic considerations for standards development, among others.
Objective:
The two-day activity aims at officially presenting the recommendations to the Central American Technical Regulation of Energy Efficiency. During the meeting, technical aspects of the regulation such as the development of a regional registry as a tool to facilitate the evaluation of conformity, the development of market studies, and the determination of equivalences, will also be addressed. The event will take place within the framework of the Council of Ministers and Energy Directors of the SICA Member States, to be held the week of March 25-29, 2019.
