UK vacuum manufacturer wins victory in EU court News
© WikiMedia (Eva Rinaldi)
UK vacuum manufacturer wins victory in EU court

The General Court of the European Union ruled Thursday that testing vacuum cleaners using empty dust bag receptacles does not serve the purpose of one of its energy efficiency regulations.

The regulation in question is known as Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. The directive was finalized in May 2010. As of September 1, 2014, all vacuum products sold in EU countries are subject to energy efficiency labeling requirements that serve to inform consumers of each products’ energy efficiency.

Dyson, a British vacuum manufacturer, challenged directive 2010/30/EU. Dyson produces a vacuum cleaner that does not utilize attachable dust bags the same way traditional vacuum cleaners do. Dyson brought suit against the European Commission in 2013.

The court noted that 2010/30/EU, does not require testing of vacuum cleaners using empty dust bags. The court ruled the method does not comply with the purpose of the directive.