Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697648833534.pdf (Bahamas)
DRAFT BAHAMAS NATIONAL STANDARD Environmental labels and declarations – Type I environmental labelling – Principles and procedures DBNS ISO 14024 :2018 Bahamas Bureau of Standards & Quality (BBSQ) Source River Centre, 1000 Bacardi Road P.O.

Box N- 4843, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas Tel: (242) 362-1748 thru 56 Fax: (242) 362-9172 Email: standards@bbsq.bs Website: www.bbsq.bs  BBSQ – All rights reserved.
No part of this publication is to be reproduced without the prior written consent of BBSQ BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 BBSQ Foreword This draft national standard is identical with the English version of the International Standard ISO 14024:2018 Environmental labels and declarations – Type I environmental labelling – Principles and procedures.

The national committee responsible for reviewing this standard is Technical Committee 14 Environmental Management and Protection.
This draft standard contains requirements that are relevant for The Bahamas.
BBSQ Committee Representation This ISO International Standard will be adopted as a national standard under the supervision of the National Technical Committee for Environmental Management and Protection (NTC 14) hosted by the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality which at the time comprised the following members: Member Representing Dr. Ancilleno Davis (Chairperson) Bahamas National Trust Mrs. Alphanique Swann-Newbold (Vice Chairperson) N/A Mr. Alexio Brown (Technical Secretary) Ministry of Works Mrs. Virginia McKinney Green Systems at Waste Not Limited Mr. Neko Albury Ms. Melissa Alexiou Mr. DeCosta Bethel Ms. Kristal Bethel Mr. Scott Bowe Ms. Ebone Blyden Mr. Allen Cunningham Mr. Joseph Darville Water and Sewerage Corporation Waypoint Consulting Limited Engineers & Consultants Limited Ministry of Tourism Ministry of Tourism Ministry of the Environment and Housing Customs Department Save the Bays/Waterkeepers Bahamas Ms. Rashema Ingraham Waterkeepers Bahamas Dr. Danny Davis The University of The Bahamas Mrs. Sandra Phillip-Burrows The University of The Bahamas Ms. Deborah Deal Ms. Kendria Ferguson Contemporary Builders Sustainability Consultant ii ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY Ms. Sheri Fountain Mr. Wayne Francis Mr. Kevin Glinton DBNS ISO 14024:2018 The Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute Sol Petroleum Bahamas Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation Mrs. Tyrhonda Knowles-Glinton Department of Transformation and Digitization Ms. Lakerah Grant Public Hospital Authority Ms. Bernadette Walkine Public Hospital Authority Ms. Christine Greene Department of Environmental Health Services Ms. Rochelle McKinney Bahamas Power and Light Ms. Shawnell McNeil Mr. André Moss Mrs. Stacey Moultrie Ms. Lashelle Moxey Ms. Karen Panton Mr. Cranston Rolle Ms. Charlene Smith Caribbean Bottling Company Sun Oil Limited SEV Consulting Group Bahamas Protected Areas Fund Bahamas Protected Areas Fund CSR Company Aquapure Water Limited Mrs. Miaya Armstrong-Smith Mrs. Michelle
 Liu-Williamson Atlantis Atlantis Mrs. Shenique Albury-Smith The Nature Conservancy ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved iii BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 Contents Page Foreword .......................................................................................................................................................................... v Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... vi Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Normative references .................................................................................................................................... 1 Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 1 Objective of Type I environmental labelling ......................................................................................... 3 Principles ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Voluntary nature of the programme ................................................................................................. 4 5.1 Relationship with ISO 14020 ............................................................................................................... 4 5.2 Use of ecolabels ......................................................................................................................................... 4 5.3 Life cycle consideration ......................................................................................................................... 4 5.4 Selectivity
4 5.4 Selectivity .................................................................................................................................................... 4 5.5 Product environmental criteria .......................................................................................................... 4 5.6 Product function characteristics ........................................................................................................ 4 5.7 Validity of programme requirements............................................................................................... 5 5.8 Consultation ............................................................................................................................................... 5 5.9 5.10 Compliance and verification ................................................................................................................ 5 5.11 Data quality ................................................................................................................................................ 5 5.12 Transparency ............................................................................................................................................ 5 5.13 Accessibility ............................................................................................................................................... 6 5.14 Scientific basis of product environmental criteria ...................................................................... 6 5.15 Avoidance of conflict of interest ......................................................................................................... 6 5.16 Competence of verifiers ......................................................................................................................... 6 5.17 Costs and fees ............................................................................................................................................ 6 5.18 Confidentiality
 ........................................................................................................................................... 6 5.19 Mutual recognition .................................................................................................................................. 6 Procedures......................................................................................................................................................... 7 General ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Consultation with interested parties ................................................................................................ 7 Selection of product categories ........................................................................................................... 7 Selection and development of product environmental criteria .............................................. 8 Selection of product function characteristics ................................................................................ 9 Reporting and publication ................................................................................................................. 10 Implementation of modifications to the product environmental criteria ....................... 10 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Certification and compliance ................................................................................................................... 11 General ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 Basic concepts ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Licensing
11 Licensing .................................................................................................................................................. 11 Procedures for assessing and demonstrating compliance .................................................... 12 Compliance monitoring ...................................................................................................................... 13 Protection of the label ......................................................................................................................... 13 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................. 14 iv ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 Foreword ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies).
The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees.

Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee.

International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1.

In particular the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted.

This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights.
ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, Subcommittee SC 3, Environmental labelling.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 14024:1999), which has been technically revised.

The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows: — addition of definitions for “verifier” (3.15) and “verification” (3.16); — addition of subclauses on data quality (5.11) and the competence of verifiers (5.16); — addition of paragraph on the competence of verifiers in 6.1; — addition of subclause 7.4.5 on verification; — updating of reference documents.
©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved v BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 Introduction There are several approaches to environmental labelling.

This document relates to Type I environmental labelling programmes, which award their environmental label to products that meet a set of predetermined requirements.

The label identifies products that are determined to be environmentally preferable within a particular product category.
Type I environmental labelling programmes are voluntary, can be operated by public or private agencies and can be national, regional or international in nature.
vi © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 Environmental labels and declarations – Type I environmental labelling – Principles and procedure 1 Scope This document establishes the principles and procedures for developing Type I environmental labelling programmes, including the selection of product categories, product environmental criteria and product function characteristics, and for assessing and demonstrating compliance.
This document also establishes the certification procedures for awarding the label.

2 Normative references The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document.

For dated references, only the edition cited applies.

For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14020, Environmental labels and declarations — General principles 3 Terms and definitions For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses: — ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp — IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/ 3.1 Type I environmental labelling programme voluntary, multiple-criteria-based third party (3.7) programme that awards a licence (3.13) which authorizes the use of environmental labels on products (3.2) indicating overall environmental preferability of a product within a particular product category (3.3) based on life cycle considerations [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3] 3.2 product any goods or service [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 6.2, modified — Notes to entry have been deleted.]
3.3 product category group of products (3.2) which have equivalent function [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3.3] 3.4 product environmental criteria ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved 1 BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 environmental requirements that the product (3.2) shall meet in order to be awarded an environmental label [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3.3.3] 3.5 product function characteristic attribute or characteristic in the performance and use of a product (3.2) [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3.3.2] 3.6 ecolabelling body third party (3.7) body, and its agents, which conducts a Type I environmental labelling programme (3.1) [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3.4] 3.7 third party person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the issue in question Note 1 to entry: “Parties involved” are usually supplier (“first party”) and purchaser (“second party”) interests.
[SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 3.7] 3.8 interested party party affected by a Type I environmental labelling programme (3.1) 3.9 licensee party authorized by an ecolabelling body (3.6) to use a Type I environmental label [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3.2] 3.10 environmental aspect element of an organization’s activities or products (3.2) that interacts or can interact with the environment Note 1 to entry: An environmental aspect can cause (an) environmental impact(s) (3.11).
A significant environmental aspect is one that has or can have one or more significant environmental impact(s).

Note 2 to entry: Significant environmental aspects are determined by the organization applying one or more criteria.

[SOURCE: ISO 14001:2015, 3.2.2, modified — The words “or services” have been deleted.]
3.11 environmental impact change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s environmental aspects (3.10) [SOURCE: ISO 14001:2015, 3.2.4] 2 ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 3.12 certification procedure by which a third party (3.7) gives written assurance that a product (3.2) or process conforms to specified requirements [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 3.10, modified — The words “a product, process or service” have been replaced by “a product or process”.]
3.13 licence (for Type I environmental labelling) licence document, issued under the rules of a certification (3.12) system, by which an ecolabelling body (3.6) grants to a person or body the right to use Type I environmental labels for its products (3.2) in accordance with the rules of the environmental labelling programme [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3.1, modified — Second term “licence” has been added, and the words “or services” have been deleted in the definition.]
3.14 fitness for purpose ability of a product (3.2) or process to serve a defined purpose under specific conditions [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 8.3.3.1, modified — The words “a product, process or service” have been replaced by “a product or process”.]
3.15 verifier person or body that carries out verification (3.16) [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 5.3] 3.16 verification confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that specified requirements have been fulfilled [SOURCE: ISO 14050:2009, 5.1] 4 Objective of Type I environmental labelling The overall goal of environmental labels and declarations is to encourage, through communication of verifiable and accurate information that is not misleading on environmental aspects of products, the demand for and supply of those products that cause less stress on the environment, thereby stimulating the potential for market-driven continuous environmental improvement.
The objective of Type I environmental labelling programmes is to contribute to a reduction in the environmental impacts associated with products, through the identification of products that meet the criteria of a specific Type I programme for overall environmental preferability.

The objective of this document is to secure transparency and credibility in implementing Type I environmental labelling programmes and to harmonize the principles and procedures applicable to the programmes.
©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved 3 BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 5 Principles 5.1 Voluntary nature of the programme Type I environmental labelling programmes, including those developed or operated by government- sponsored agencies, shall be voluntary in nature.

5.2 Relationship with ISO 14020 In addition to the requirements of this document, the principles set out in ISO 14020 shall apply.
Where this document provides for more specific requirements than ISO 14020, those specific requirements shall apply.

5.3 Use of ecolabels Use of an ecolabel in accordance with this document is considered to indicate meeting all environmental and other relevant legal requirements.
5.4 Life cycle consideration The objective of reducing environmental impacts and not merely transferring impacts across media or stages of the product life cycle is best served by considering the whole product life cycle when setting product environmental criteria.

Life cycle stages to be taken into account when developing the product environmental criteria should include extraction of resources, manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal relating to relevant cross- media environmental indicators.
Any departure from this comprehensive approach or selective use of restricted environmental issues shall be justified.

5.5 Selectivity Product environmental criteria shall be established to differentiate environmentally preferable products from others in the product category, based on a measurable difference in environmental impact.

Product environmental criteria should differentiate between products only when these differences are significant.
Testing and verification methodologies used to evaluate products have different levels of precision and accuracy.

This should be considered when determining the significance of this difference.

Once product environmental criteria are established according to the above, all products that meet the criteria shall be eligible to use the label.
5.6 Product environmental criteria 5.6.1 Life cycle considerations The product environmental criteria shall be based on indicators arising from life cycle considerations (see 6.4).

5.6.2 Basis of criteria The product environmental criteria should be set at attainable levels and should give consideration to relative environmental impacts, measurement capability and accuracy.
5.7 Product function characteristics In developing the criteria, the fitness for purpose of the product and the levels of performance shall be taken into account.

International, regional or national standards for the product should be considered for use in the programme, according to the hierarchy for use of standards set out in ISO 14020.

4 ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY NOTE safety and consumer performance needs.
In the context of environmental labelling, fitness for purpose implies that a product satisfies health, DBNS ISO 14024:2018 5.8 Validity of programme requirements 5.8.1 Period of validity The product environmental criteria and product function requirements for each product category shall be set for a predefined period.
5.8.2 Review period The product environmental criteria and product function requirements shall be reviewed within a predefined period, taking account of factors such as new technologies, new products, new environmental information and market changes.

Review of the product environmental criteria and product functional requirements need not necessarily lead to changes in them.
5.9 Consultation A process of formal open participation among interested parties shall be established at the outset for the purpose of selecting and reviewing product categories, product environmental criteria and product function characteristics.

5.10 Compliance and verification All the elements in the product environmental criteria and product function characteristics of the environmental labelling programme shall be verifiable by the ecolabelling body.
The methods for assessing compliance should make use of the following, in order of preference: — ISO and IEC standards; — other internationally recognized standards; — regional and national standards; — other repeatable and reproducible methods which follow accepted principles of good laboratory practice (see ISO/IEC 17025 for information on good laboratory practice); — manufacturer's evidence.
5.11 Data quality The ecolabelling body shall require data that reduce bias and uncertainty as far as practical by requiring the best quality data available.

Data quality shall be characterized by both quantitative and qualitative aspects and the source of data shall be specified in the criteria requirements whenever possible.

5.12 Transparency A Type I environmental labelling programme should be able to demonstrate transparency through all stages of its development and operation.
Transparency implies that information shall be available to interested parties for inspection and comment where appropriate.

Adequate time shall be allowed for comments to be submitted.
This information should include: — selection of product categories; — selection and development of product environmental criteria; — product function characteristics; ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved 5 BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 — testing and verification methods; — certification and award procedures; — the review period; — the period of validity; — non-confidential evidence on which the awarding of the label is based; — funding sources for the programme development (e.g.
fees, government financial support); — compliance verification.

Transparency should not conflict with the requirements of 5.16.

5.13 Accessibility Application to, and participation in, environmental labelling programmes shall be open to all potential applicants.

All applicants that fulfil the product environmental criteria for a given product category and the other programme requirements shall be entitled to be granted a licence and authorized to use the label.
5.14 Scientific basis of product environmental criteria The development and selection of criteria shall be based on sound scientific and engineering principles.

The criteria should be derived from data that support the claim of environmental preferability.

5.15 Avoidance of conflict of interest Type I environmental labelling programmes shall ensure that they are free from undue influence.

Programmes shall be able to demonstrate that sources of funding do not create a conflict of interest.
NOTE See also ISO/IEC 17065.

5.16 Competence of verifiers The ecolabelling body shall establish procedures that include a process to assess and develop the competence of verifiers, e.g.

by periodic training.

The ecolabelling body shall have a transparent and documented process to manage the verification activity and to provide traceability.

5.17 Costs and fees Fees may include application, testing or administration fees.
In principle, the costs and fees for the granting and maintaining of a label should be based on all programme costs and should be kept as low as possible to maximize accessibility.

Any fees should be applied equitably to all applicants and licensees.

5.18 Confidentiality The confidentiality of all information that is identified as confidential shall be maintained.

5.19 Mutual recognition Mutual recognition, based on confidence, should be encouraged.
There may be mutual recognition of tests, inspections, conformity assessment, administrative procedures and, where appropriate, product environmental criteria.

6 ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY To ensure full transparency, information on existing mutual recognition agreements with other eco- labelling bodies shall be made available.

NOTE For further guidance, see ISO/IEC 17040.


DBNS ISO 14024:2018 6 Procedures 6.1 General Type I environmental labelling involves an iterative process, which includes: — consultation with interested parties; — the selection of product categories; — development, review and modification of product environmental criteria; — the identification of product function characteristics; — the establishment of certification procedures and other administrative elements of the programme.
The establishment of certification procedures shall include establishing the competence of the verifiers, including knowledge of: — the relevant sector and products within the sector; — product-related environmental criteria, including the methodology used to develop the criteria; — the regulatory framework; — the programme rules for Type I environmental labelling; — this document and other standards relevant to the verification.
6.2 Consultation with interested parties The ecolabelling body shall implement a formal consultation mechanism that facilitates full participation of interested parties.

Such a mechanism could include the use of selected groups of interested parties’ representatives, e.g.

consultation board, advisory committee or public hearing.
Consultation is an on-going process that occurs in the selection of the product category, and in the establishment of product environmental criteria and product function characteristics.

Interested parties shall be given adequate time and access to details and sources of information used.

The consultation process shall also ensure that interested parties that comment on the programme receive proper consideration of, and response to, their comments.
Reasonable efforts should be made to achieve consensus throughout the process.

6.3 Selection of product categories 6.3.1 Conducting a feasibility study In this phase of the process, a study should be conducted on potential product categories and the nature of the market.

The purpose of the study is to consider the feasibility of establishing the product categories.
The study should include: — the initial selection of possible product categories; ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved 7 BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 — consultation with interested parties; — a market survey (e.g.

nature, size, demand); — suppliers in the market place (e.g.
small and medium-sized enterprises, foreign and domestic producers); — environmental impacts of products; — the potential and need for environmental improvement; — the definition of the scope of product categories, taking into account equivalence of use and fitness for use, including product function characteristics; — availability of data; — current national and international legislation and agreements.
6.3.2 Proposal for product category Once a feasibility study has been completed, the ecolabelling body is in a position to ascertain which product categories are most likely to obtain marketplace acceptance.

A product category proposal should be prepared for the interested parties, which summarizes the components of the feasibility study, its findings and the considerations leading to the proposal of product categories for the programme.
6.4 Selection and development of product environmental criteria 6.4.1 Selection of product environmental criteria The framework and procedures set out in this document are intended to provide uniformity, while allowing decisions on the final criteria to be the result of the consultation process between the ecolabelling body and interested parties.

The criteria shall be selected in accordance with the requirements set out in 5.2 to 5.19.
The matrix in Table 1 is an example of applying this approach and is included to assist ecolabelling bodies to initiate selection of product environmental criteria.

The matrix links the stages of the product life cycle with the major environmental input and output indicators.

The emission indicators are grouped by media and are usually more than one per medium.
The study of the life cycle stages (which may be performed as a further part of the feasibility study given in 6.3.1) could lead to the conclusion that environmental impacts in some stages are insignificant and do not warrant further consideration.

The study shall show that the selection of product environmental criteria will not lead to the transfer of impacts from one stage of the life cycle to another, or from one medium to another, without a net gain of environmental benefit.
Table 1 — Typical product environmental criteria selection matrix Environmental input/output indicators Stage of the life cycle Energy Resources Emission to Renewable/Non- renewable Renewable/Non- renewable Water Air Soil Other Resource extraction Production 8 ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 Distribution Use Disposal 6.4.2 Development of product environmental criteria 6.4.2.1 General The process for establishing the criteria should take into account relevant local, regional, and global environmental issues, available technology and economic aspects.
Product environmental criteria should be expressed in terms of: — impacts on the environment and natural resources; or — whenever that is not practicable, environmental aspects, such as emissions to the environment.

Criteria that directly or indirectly require or exclude the use of particular processes or production methods without justification shall be avoided.

Any exclusions of certain substances should be based on scientific methodology meeting Principle 3 of ISO 14020.
Methods such as risk assessment may provide useful information in this respect.

Some major considerations in this phase of the labelling programme are set out in 6.4.2.2 to 6.4.2.5.

6.4.2.2 Identification of areas most relevant for reduction of environmental impact The ecolabelling body shall identify the product life cycle stages where there is differentiation of environmental impacts among the products within the category.
The ranges and variability of the data obtained for specific products shall be analysed to ensure that the selected product environmental criteria are adequate and reflect the differences among products.

6.4.2.3 Use of qualitative and quantitative indices The ecolabelling body may consider it proper to apply weighting factors to the selected environmental requirements.

The reasons for each weighting factor shall be clearly explained and justified.
6.4.2.4 Determination of numerical values for each relevant criterion The ecolabelling body shall determine the criteria that most accurately reflect the selected environmental aspects.

Once the criteria have been determined, the ecolabelling body shall assign numerical values to them.

These values could take the form of minimum values, threshold levels not to be exceeded, a scale-point system or other relevant and appropriate approaches.
6.4.2.5 Determination of test methods, procedures and availability of test laboratories Testing and verification requirements should be considered in parallel with the preparation of requirements for a given product category.

The organizational, technical and economic feasibility of such testing and verification requirements should be carefully considered.
The ecolabelling body should provide a reference to the test methods that are required for any given criterion or characteristic, and should examine the availability of competent laboratories capable of performing the tests.

The test methods should be selected according to the guidance given in 5.10.

6.5 Selection of product function characteristics In the selection of the product function characteristics, due consideration shall be given to product function.
This should be addressed in terms of product performance, rather than design or descriptive characteristics.
©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved 9 BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 When establishing product function characteristics, consideration should be given to: — identification of the product function characteristics; — selection of key performance elements that characterize function; — verification that the key performance elements are applicable to all products in the category; — identifying the necessary levels of performance (see 5.7).
6.6 Reporting and publication Once the product categories, product environmental criteria and product function characteristics have been established, they shall be published.
The selected report format shall be accompanied by information which demonstrates that: — the establishment of the category, criteria and characteristics is in accordance with the scope, principles, practices and requirements set out in this document; — the criteria are objective and justifiable; — methods are available to verify the product environmental criteria and product function characteristics; — interested parties were given the opportunity to participate in the process and their views were taken into consideration.
The ecolabelling body should also provide information on request that explains the meaning of the label to purchasers and the public.

6.7 Implementation of modifications to the product environmental criteria In cases where the label has already been awarded to products, there are several of factors that should be considered when establishing the date on which revisions to the criteria will come into force.
These factors include, but are not limited to: — the urgency of complying with the revised product environmental criteria; — the extent of the change, the length of time and the level of complexity involved in retooling the manufacturing process to comply with the revised criteria; — avoidance of unintentional commercial advantage given to a particular manufacturer or to a particular design or process; — the need to involve the licensee's material suppliers; — action that needs to be taken with respect to existing products with the label awarded under the old criteria which are still in the chain of supply to the end consumer; — time for appropriate consultation with licensees; — complexity of administering the changes for the ecolabelling body; — legislative requirements.
10 ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 7 Certification and compliance 7.1 General Clause 7 sets out general requirements for certification and compliance.

NOTE See also ISO/IEC 17065.

7.2 Basic concepts 7.2.1 General The prerequisites for awarding the label are normally divided into the elements set out in 7.2.2 and 7.2.3.

7.2.2 General rules General rules guide the overall operation of the programme.
These general rules control the general conditions for the awarding of the licence and the use of the label.
The general rules should address, but may not be limited to, the following issues: — publicity by licensees; — conditions that could lead to the suspension, cancellation or withdrawal of a licence; — procedures for implementing corrective action in case of nonconformity; — procedures for resolution of disputes, procedures for testing and verification, fee structure; — guidance for the use of logotype.
It is essential that all prerequisites for the awarding of the licence and the use of the label are included in the general rules, in the product environmental criteria and in product function characteristics, because only these requirements can be used as the basis for awarding or withholding the licence to use the label.
7.2.3 Product environmental criteria and product function characteristics for each product category Product environmental criteria and product function characteristics set out the technical requirement elements of the Type I environmental labelling programme for each product category.

7.3 Licensing The ecolabelling body is responsible for licensing of applicants.
The ecolabelling body shall award a licence to use the label only when it is satisfied that: — the applicant is in compliance with the general rules of the programme; — the product is in compliance with the product environmental criteria and product function characteristics applicable to its product category.

The issuing of a licence does not oblige the licensee to use the label.

The ecolabelling body shall maintain a publicly available list of products to which the label has been awarded.
©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved 11 BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 7.4 Procedures for assessing and demonstrating compliance 7.4.1 Basic principle The methodology for assessing whether a product complies with the product environmental criteria and product function characteristics, and for verifying on-going compliance, shall be documented and shall have sufficient rigour to maintain confidence in the programme.
There may be many factors influencing the choice of compliance procedures and the methodologies may vary from one programme to another.

7.4.2 Supervision and control The ecolabelling body shall review the programme requirements and, in accordance with the general rules (see 7.2.2), shall determine the appropriate form of verification for each.

Once the requirements have been reviewed, a plan of supervision and control shall be prepared.
7.4.3 Supporting documentation The ecolabelling body shall obtain documentary evidence of the applicant's conformity with the programme requirements.

All data shall be of known and verifiable quality.
The ecolabelling body shall prepare and, on request, shall make available documentation including, at a minimum: — product categories; — product environmental criteria, product function characteristics, period of validity of criteria, testing and verification methods; — certification and award procedures; — periodic review criteria; — non-confidential evidence on which the awarding of the label is based; — funding sources for the programme development (e.g.
fees, government financial support); — compliance verification.

7.4.4 Declarations of conformity If the programme allows for the use of the applicant's declaration of conformity with certain programme requirements, the declaration of conformity should follow the guidelines set out in ISO/IEC 17050.

7.4.5 Verification The verification shall be fully documented and the documentation shall be retained by the ecolabelling body.
This shall be for the period that the licence is valid, and for a reasonable period thereafter, taking into account the lifetime of the product.
The minimum verification information required to be documented and retained shall include the following: a) identification of the standard or method used; b) documentary evidence, if verification cannot be made by testing the finished product; c) test results, where these are necessary for verification; 12 ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 d) when verification is carried out by an independent verifier outside the programme, the name and address of the independent verifier.
7.5 Compliance monitoring After the licence has been awarded to an applicant, the licensee shall inform the ecolabelling body of any change that might affect its continued compliance with the requirements.

The ecolabelling body shall ensure that any change in the product or its manufacturing process likely to affect compliance is considered and shall require the licensee to initiate corrective action if compliance is not maintained.
It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure that compliance with the programme requirements is maintained.

7.6 Protection of the label The ecolabelling body shall ensure that its label (i.e.

the certification mark/logotype) is legally protected in order to prevent unauthorized use and to maintain public confidence in the programme.

The ecolabelling body shall have a clear and explicit policy regarding the proper use of the label.
Any deviation from this policy shall result in appropriate corrective action and possible withdrawal of the licence.
©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved 13 BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY DBNS ISO 14024:2018 Bibliography [1] ISO 14001:2015, Environmental management systems — Requirements with guidance for use [2] ISO 14025, Environmental labels and declarations — Type III environmental declarations — Principles and procedures [3] ISO 14050:2009, Environmental management — Vocabulary [4] ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories [5] ISO/IEC 17040, Conformity assessment — General requirements for peer assessment of conformity assessment bodies and accreditation bodies [6] ISO/IEC 17050 (all parts), Conformity assessment — Supplier's declaration of conformity [7] ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services 14 ©ISO 2018 – All rights reserved BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY The Bahamas Bureau of Standards & Quality The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ), is a body corporate by virtue of the Standards Act and the Weights and Measures Act of 2006 with reporting relationship to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The BBSQ is governed by a Standards Council that is responsibility for the policy and general administration of the Bureau.

The main objective of the BBSQ is to improve industry competitiveness in the domestic and export markets, facilitate trade by reducing technical barrier to trade, and strengthen consumer and environmental protection against unsafe products or services being placed on the market.
This is accomplished through the formulation, adoption and /or adaption of standards as national instruments of socio-economic development.

Additionally through offering metrology, inspection, testing and certification services, the latter three being collectively termed conformity assessment.

Procedure for the Preparation of Standards Documents: 1.

The preparation of standards documents is undertaken upon the Standards Council’s authorization.
This may arise out of representations from national organizations or existing Bureau of Standards’ Committees or Bureau staff.

If the project is approved it is referred to the appropriate sectional committee, or if none exists a new committee is formed, or the project is allotted to Bureau staff.

2.
2.

If necessary, when the final draft of a standard is ready, the Council authorizes an approach to the Minister in order to obtain the formal concurrence of any other Minister who may be responsible for any area which the standard affects.

3.

With the approval of the Standards Council, the draft document is made available for general public comments.

All interested parties, by means of notice in the Press, are invited to comment.
In addition copies are forwarded to those known to be interested in the subject.

4.

The Committee considers all the comments received and recommends the final document to the Standards Council.

5.

The Standards Council recommends the document to the Minister for publication.

6.

The Minister approves the recommendation of the Standards Council.

7.

The declaration of the standard is gazetted and copies placed for sale.

8.
8.

On the recommendation of the Standards Council the Minister may declare a standard to be compulsory.

9.

If a standard is declared compulsory all relevant regulatory government agencies are notified to apply/enact enforcement of the standards.

10.

Amendments to and revisions of standards normally require the same procedure as is applied to the preparation of the original standard.
Application to use the reference library and to purchase Bahamas National Standards and other standards documents should be addressed to: Bahamas Bureau of Standards & Quality (BBSQ) Source River Centre, 1000 Bacardi Road P.O.

Box N- 4843, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas BBSQ - FOR REVIEW & PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLY