The draft decision updates requirements agreed in 2006 on energy use by electronic imaging equipment such as printers, faxes and scanners – one of three product categories currently covered by the Energy Star programme.

The new requirements for imaging equipment have already been agreed in talks between EU and US officials, and now require only formal approval by both sides to enter force on 1 July.

The EU and US have also reached agreement on new requirements for the two other categories of office equipment in the current Energy Star programme – computers and computer monitors. Draft decisions setting out these requirements will be published in the official journal in the coming months, according to the commission.

Both parties are also close to agreement on energy performance requirements for a new category of products set to be added to the programme – computer servers. A fourth draft decision will be published once an agreement is finalised, most likely after the summer.

Follow-up: European commission, plus draft decision on imaging equipment and Energy Star website