A voluntary agreement for medical imaging equipment was discussed in Consultation Forum in November 2009. In February 2012, a new proposal was submitted.

The initial agreement (or Self Regulatory Initiative - SRI) was presented in 2008 by COCIR, which represents the Radiological Electromedical and Healthcare IT industry in Europe. A revised agreement was presented 2012.

The scope of the agreement focuses on the industry sector on medical imaging
equipment for human applications, including the following modalities (equivalent to product groups):

• Computer Tomography (CT),
• Ultrasound,
• X-Ray,
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),
• Nuclear Medicine.

According to the proposal, the complexity of the products makes it impossible to consider all product groups at one time, since the products require specific attention to review all life cycle phases. The adopted principle is based on a 6-step approach. The steering committee would engage in one modality per year.

Ultrasound products

The intention was to start with the first modality – the ultrasound product – 2009. Targets for this modality were set to 6% reduction in energy consumption for new ultrasound products placed on the market between 2010 and 2012. According to COCIR, this corresponds to a reduction of 25% compared to 2005.

The Commission agreed to accept the commitment, if the sector refines its proposal to meet "certain conditions" identified in the stakeholder meeting 2009. One of the conditions was to provide data to prove that the proposed 6% energy target for ultrasound products goes beyond BAU improvements.

eceee's views

In the light of relatively low aggregate energy consumption of medical imaging equipment, and the importance to safeguard the primary function of these products, eceee welcomes the self-regulatory initiative as a good intention to contribute to energy efficient product development.

For more information, view our section about Voluntary Agreements.

Products & status