EC Regulation 1275/2008
On 6 January 2010 the European Commission Regulation 1275/2008 came into force regulating requirements for standby and off mode electric power consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment.
The regulations mandate that from 6 January 2010 "off mode" and standby power shall not exceed 1W, "standby plus" power (providing information or status display in addition to possible reactivation function) shall not exceed 2W. Equipment must where appropriate provide off mode and/or standby mode when the equipment is connected to the mains power source. These figures were halved on 6 January 2013.[1]