The Polish government’s stated intention to stop recognising the European Heat Pump KEYMARK Certification would undermine EU rules on free movement of goods and will limit consumer choice of heat pumps and drive prices up.
Polish authorities plan to stop consumers who buy certain heat pumps from being eligible for subsidies from 2025. The heat pumps in question are certified under the KEYMARK scheme, owned by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), and will no longer qualify for national subsidies as of 2025. This comes despite the certification’s widespread use for almost two decades across Europe and its role in ensuring the quality and performance of heat pumps.
The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), the Heat Pump KEYMARK Secretariat, the Steering Committee and the KEYMARK Management Organisation designated by CEN/CENELEC (the European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) are calling on the European Commission to intervene urgently.
Tarik Bellahcene, Head of the Heat Pump KEYMARK Secretariat, said:
“Poland’s reluctance to support a solid European certification scheme is harmful to consumers. The country has energy and climate goals, and a need for net zero jobs, like the rest of the EU – yet rather than encouraging a sector which can help, it is effectively blocking and fragmenting it.”
This decision could make tens of thousands of heat pumps certified through KEYMARK suddenly unmarketable in Poland, despite years of consistent compliance. The impact is potentially devastating for both the industry and Polish consumers, who stand to lose access to reliable, certified products at a time when energy transition and decarbonisation efforts are more critical than ever.” The Heat Pump KEYMARK programme, which certifies more than 9,300 models from over 170 brands, guarantees compliance with European standards through rigorous, third-party testing and inspection.
EHPA and the KEYMARK Secretariat are deeply concerned that this obstruction violates fundamental European principles, particularly in the areas of free movement of goods and the harmonisation of quality standards. These organisations have repeatedly sought dialogue with Polish authorities, including a high-level meeting in Warsaw in the summer of 2024, but despite initial progress, no formal response has been received to confirm the continuity of KEYMARK’s recognition.
The European Heat Pump Association and the Heat Pump KEYMARK Certification Secretariat are now urgently requesting the European Commission’s intervention. We call for immediate action to ensure that:
- Poland removes the barrier to the free movement and marketing of KEYMARK-certified heat pumps beyond 31 December 2024.
- KEYMARK certification documents are fully recognised in Poland without additional restrictions, using any EU language.
- Polish authorities publicly clarify their position on the use of certified heat pumps to restore market confidence and continue supporting Europe’s decarbonisation goals.
“Time is of the essence, and we urge the European Commission to take swift, decisive action to prevent further harm to the heat pump sector and ensure continued consumer access to high-quality, certified products across Europe” added Tarik Bellahcene.
Read the full content of the letter here.
