Eco Label Scheme
European Union Eco-label Award Scheme
A new environmental mark, known as the Eco-label, has been established by the European Union for the benefit of both consumers and manufacturers. When placing the mark on a product, the consumer is being made aware that this product has been identified as having a reduced environmental impact. The consumer can be assured that for this product it has been established by the Competent Body in Ireland, NSAI, through various means that conformance to specific criteria, set by the European Commission, has been met, which allows the manufacturer to place the label on his product. The label is awarded under contract between the manufacturer and the competent body. The label is easily identifiable by its green stalk supporting a corona of blue stars, representing the Member States of the European Union, in the centre of which is a green letter “e” for the environment.
The EU Eco-label award scheme has been set up to identify products with a reduced environmental impact. It is a voluntary scheme and manufacturers can choose whether or not to apply for the Eco-label.
The scheme is based on Council Regulation EEC Nº 880/92 of 23 March 1992, which has been updated and revised by Council Regulation Nº 1980/2000 of 17 July 2000. The scheme excludes food, drink and pharmaceuticals from its scope. No other products are excluded. The award of the label to specific products is based on the definition of a set of criteria for the product, that establish that the product is environmentally friendly. These definitions are being prepared on a gradual basis. At present criteria are available for twenty-one product groups. These are:
- Tissue paper
- Dishwashers
- Soil Improvers
- Bed Mattresses
- Indoor paints and varnishes
- Footwear
- Textile products
- Personal Computers
- Laundry Detergents
- Detergents for dishwashers
- Copying and graphic paper
- Lightbulbs
- Portable Computers
- Refrigerators
- Washing machines
- Hard floor coverings
- Vacuum cleaners
- Hand dishwashing detergents
- All purpose cleaners
- Televisions
- Tourist accommodation service
Decisions on bringing product groups into consideration are made by Eco-labelling competent bodies in consultation with the European Commission.
Each Member State must establish a competent body for the EU Eco-label award scheme. In Ireland NSAI is the Competent Body. Manufacturers and importers make their application to the Competent Body in the Member State where their product is manufactured or first marketed or imported from a third country.
The manufacturer then establishes, by testing and in other ways, that his product meets the relevant criteria, and submits the data to the Competent Body. The body assesses the data and if satisfied that the criteria have been met, submits its recommendation to the European Commission, which then notifies all other competent bodies. If no objection is raised within thirty days, the award of the label may proceed. The actual award is made under a contract between the manufacturer and the Competent Body. Once the Eco-label has been awarded by a Competent Body it can be used in all the EU Member States.
Further information and references to the Official Journals where criteria for product groups are published, can be found at the following website:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/ecolabel
You may download this file as an Adobe PDF file by clicking here: Eco-label scheme (pdf)
Eco-label for tourist accommodation service
The European Eco-label for tourist accommodation service was created to reward accommodation services that respect the environment. It signals good environmental performance and is an added quality value when tourists are choosing their accommodation. Hotels and guesthouses displaying the Eco-label flower logo have been distinguished as being amongst the most environmentally friendly in their area. The following website gives more details on the eco-label for tourist accommodation:
www.ecolabel-tourism.eu
Accommodation services that have been awarded the Eco-Label flower logo:
The European Eco-label Catalogue
The European Eco-label Catalogue list the products that are eco-labelled and the manufacturers of these products. More information on the Eco-label Catalogue can be obtained at:http://www.eco-label.com
The Eco-label Helpdesk
The help desk provides interested parties, e.g., business, retailers and consumers, with information concerning the EU Eco-label Scheme. Questions on the running of the Scheme or suggestions about its improvement should be addressed to the following e-mail address: ecolabel@biois.com
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Last Updated - [18 Sep 2008 @ 12:20:21]
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