Gas Appliances Directive (GAD): overview
The European Parliament and the Council Directive 2009/142/EC (codified version) 
on Appliances burning gaseous fuels (GAD) is based on the New Approach. The scope of the GAD is restricted to appliances burning gaseous fuels used for cooking, heating, hot water production, refrigeration, lighting and washing, i.e. the GAD covers mainly common consumer and commercial products. So-called fittings are also covered. Appliances specifically designed for use in industrial processes carried out on industrial premises are excluded.
The system introduced by the GAD constitutes a legal framework for gas appliances in the Community Member States. It aims to provide access to the Community market for appliances and fittings so far the gas safety of these products is concerned.
The GAD has been subject to a recent codificationwhich is a process of bringing together a legislative act and all its amendments in a single new act. The new codified version entered into force on the twentieth day following its publication on 16 December 2009 in the Official Journal L 330 of the European Union. References to the repealed Directive 90/396/EEC shall be construed as references to Directive 2009/142/EC and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex VII to Directive 2009/142/EC.
More information on the codification: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/legal_service/codifica_en.htm
The GAD contains the essential requirements that an appliance must meet when it is placed on the Community market. It does not indicate how these requirements must be met, thus leaving flexibility to manufacturers as regards technical solutions to be adopted. In order to facilitate market access, Harmonised Standards, the reference numbers of which have been published in the Official Journal, provide a presumption of conformity with the directive's essential requirements. Using harmonized standards is voluntary. Standardisation work is being coordinated by the CEN (Sector Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC).
The GAD also contains provisions on conformity assessment procedures, involving Notified Bodies
The Gas Appliances Directive must be transposed into national law.
In order to ensure a coherent application of the Gas Appliances Directive, Guidance Sheets are being established and agreed in the framework of the Commission's Working Group Gas Appliances (WG-GA). This working group is composed of representatives of Member States, European federations, the Gas Appliances Directive Advisory Committee (GADAC), Notified Bodies Gas Appliances (NB-GA) and CEN and chaired by a representative of the Commission services.
The Guidance Sheets are neither a legally binding interpretation of the directive nor can they formally commit authorities or Notified Bodies. The legally binding text remains that of the Directive 2009/142/EC. However, based on a wide consensus, they represent a reference for ensuring consistent application of the Directive by all those involved.
Guidance of a general level is provided in the Guide to the implementation of directives on the New Approach and the Global Approach.
Studies
Ex-post evaluation of Directive 2009/142/EC on appliances burning gaseous fuels (GAD)
The primary focus of the Ex-post evaluation of Directive 2009/142/EC on appliances burning gaseous fuel [4 MB] carried out in 2010-2011 was to assess the direct impacts of the GAD in terms of its main objectives of ensuring free movement of products and protecting against risks to safety and health. More concretely, the study aimed at assessing the utility and the effectiveness of the GAD, its impacts on companies and users in the European Union, trade barriers that limit the free movement of goods, innovation, and whether the provisions of the GAD appropriately guarantee that gas appliances and fittings placed on the market and put into service are designed and constructed in such a way that they operate safely and present no dangers
The overall conclusion of the data collection and consultation is that the current implementation and functioning of the Gas Appliances Directive appears to be efficient and that it has been effective in meeting its objectives.
Competitiveness of the EU Gas Appliances Sector
A study on the Competitiveness of the EU Gas Appliances Sector [2 MB] was carried out in 2008-2009. The objectives of this study were to supply the Commission, the Member State experts, the appliance manufacturers, Notified Bodies and other interested parties with an economic analysis of the competitive situation and outlook of the EU gas appliances sector in the light of technological innovation and current legislation in the EU and the global market place.
(NOTE: The views and propositions expressed in the above studies are those of the external experts that carried out the studies and do not necessarily represent any official view of the European Commission or any other organisation mentioned in the reports.)
