Obtaining and Applying the EPREL Electronic Seal: A Step-by-Step Guide
Starting March 1, 2022, EU producers and distributors of electronic equipment are required to obtain a Qualified Electronic Seal (Qe-seal) for official document submissions to the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL). Here's a step-by-step guide on how to obtain and use a Qe-seal.
**Obtaining a Qualified Electronic Seal (Qe-Seal)**
1. **Who Needs It** - EU producers and distributors of energy-related products must use a Qe-seal for official document submissions to EPREL.
2. **Certification Authorities** - The Qe-seal must be issued by an EU-recognized Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) in accordance with eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014.
3. **Request Process** - Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) containing your public key. - The QTSP validates your company’s identity thoroughly according to the eIDAS rules. - Once validated, the QTSP issues a qualified electronic seal certificate bound to the legal entity.
4. **Technical Specifications** - The Qe-seal certificate typically uses strong cryptographic standards (e.g., RSA 2048-bit or above). - The seal corresponds to a digital certificate allowing trusted, legally binding sealing of electronic documents.
**Usage of Qualified Electronic Seal in EPREL**
- **Purpose**: The Qe-seal is used to digitally sign and seal product data files and declarations submitted to the EPREL database. - **Verification**: EPREL verifies the Qe-seal to confirm that the data originates from an authorized and verified EU producer or distributor. - The seal ensures **data integrity and authenticity**, preventing tampering or fraud. - The EPREL portal cross-checks the certificate against trusted QTSP lists to confirm validity.
**Verification Process within EPREL**
1. From the organization's profile, under the "Verification" tab, click on "Start verification process". 2. Enter the name and email of the person who will apply the electronic seal. 3. Download the "Verification file", a PDF file already sealed with the eSeal of the European Union. 4. After applying the seal, reload the PDF within the EPREL portal for confirmation of the verification result.
**Additional Information**
- From March 1, 2022, producers and distributors of appliances must not only register their products but also verify their identity within the EPREL portal. - The label for smartphones and tablets, as of June 20, 2025, provides information on the efficiency of the battery charger, battery life, water and dust resistance, and repair possibilities. - Access to the EPREL platform requires a Qualified Electronic Seal, compliant with the eIDAS regulation, to certify the operator's identity. EU Login can be obtained through a simple registration process, which must be performed in the name of a physical person. - If accessing EPREL for the first time and not invited by another admin, you will be automatically prompted to create your organization's profile. - After the initial creation, other "Supplier Admins" can be added to the organization's profile, or roles of "Supplier User" or "Supplier Reader" can be added. - The methods for applying the seal to the PDF vary depending on the Certification Authority you choose to issue the seal.
For detailed procedural steps or a list of specific QTSPs approved for issuing Qe-seals for EPREL, contacting the European Commission or accessing official EPREL guidance documents would be recommended.
- EU producers and distributors of electronic equipment, particularly those in the business sector, must obtain a Qualified Electronic Seal (Qe-seal) to comply with regulations for official document submissions to the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL), as theyFall within the industry of finance and data-and-cloud-computing, with the use of technology.
- The Qe-seal, which is used for digital signing and sealing of product data files and declarations submitted to the EPREL database, must be issued by an EU-recognized Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) that follows the eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, demonstrating the essential role of technology in this process.
- Producers and distributors in the European Union need to stay updated on the advancements in technology, as from March 1, 2022, they will be required to not only register their products but also verify their identity within the EPREL portal, emphasizing the increasing importance of technology in industry and finance.
