WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TE/W/56 
5 July 2005 
 (05-2932) 
Committee on Trade and Environment 
Special Session Original:   English 
 
 
 
EC SUBMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS 
 
Submission by the European Communities  
 
Paragraph 31 (iii)  
  
 The following communication, dated 4 July 2005,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the European Communities.
 
 
_______________ 
  1. WTO Members will find attached to this note a list of Environmental Goods.  This list should 
be read in conjunction with the earlier EC submissi on, TN/TE/W/47.  It represents an addition to the 
items covered in part A of the list contained in th at submission.  On part B the EC stand ready for 
further discussion.  The list as a whole should be seen as “open” in two senses: 
 - It is not a final or definitive submission but a contribution to the discussion;  and 
 - the environmental credentials of produc ts can  vary over time as technologies 
develop, and a mechanism to update the list is desirable. 
2. In line with the approach set out in the ear lier submission, the selection of environmental 
goods is guided by two main principles: 
 - They contribute to the fulfilment of  national and interna tional environmental 
priorities including Multilateral Envir onmental Agreements, the Millennium 
Development Goals (in particular on access to  safe water and sanitation), Agenda 21 
and the WSSD Plan of Implementation.  
 - They encompass categories of interest to all WTO Members including developing 
countries. 
 3. In line with these guiding principles, the list is divided into two main categories:  (A) goods 
used in pollution control and resource management  and (B) goods that have a high environmental 
performance or low environmental impact.  Each of these two main categories is composed of several 
subcategories: 
1. Goods used in Pollution Control and Resource Management
 
  - Water for human use (collection, treat ment and distribution) and wastewater 
management; 
 - solid/hazardous waste management;  - protection of ambient air and climate; TN/TE/W/56 
Page 2  
 
  - protection and remediation/cleanup of soil and water; 
 - noise and vibration abatement;  - environmental monitoring, analysis and assessment not already included elsewhere;     and  - renewable energies. 
 
2. Goods with a high environmental performance/low environmental impact
 
 
 - Vegetable plaiting materials;  - pulps of vegetable fibres; 
 - vegetable textile fibres; 
 - other products made of vegetable fibres;  - other natural products;  - sustainable agriculture or gardening;  - energy efficiency; 
 - sustainable transport;  and 
 - eco-labelled products. 
 4. Similarly to New Zealand’s latest submission (TN/TE/W/49), the EC list thus includes 
examples of products with high environmental perfo rmance or low environm ental impact.  Products 
with these characteristics can in principle be distinguished from other products on the basis of their 
physical characteristics (e.g. natural fibres). 
5. The EC also reiterates its offer
 to include in the list products which carry an eco-label issued 
by a labelling scheme included in the existing in ternational GEN network, which covers both 
developed and developing countries.  The choice of these products has the advantage that it allows the 
inclusion of high environmental performance/low e nvironmental impacts products which are easily 
identifiable.  In view of the comments made by some Delegations, and as stated in our previous 
submission (TN/TW/W47), the EC too believes that within the group of eco-labelled products it is 
preferable to single out those which are not excl usively definable by non- product related production 
or processing methods. 
6. At this stage the EC list identifies goods for purposes of inclusion in the 
Environmental Goods list through an indication of the 4 digit or (usually) 6-digit HS-heading 
applicable.  This is without prejudice to the questi on of whether the whole of that code needs to be 
retained in the final analysis or whether a list agreed in the CTE Special Session should contain a 
certain number of more detailed code classifications or ex-outs.  Previous discussions in the CTE have 
highlighted the possible additional work this might entail in custom administration. 
7. The CTE Special Session should therefore furt her examine whether ex-outs are necessary and 
feasible, and in which cases inclusion in the list of th e complete six-digit headings can be achieved.  It 
should be recalled that the identification of e nvironmental goods serves not only the purpose of 
providing an opportunity for targetted tariff reductions , but also a focus for the removal of non-tariff 
barriers.  In this latter context the n eed for ex-outs should arise less acutely. 
_______________ 
  
  TN/TE/W/56
 Page 3European Communities: Envi ronmental Goods list Part A – Polluti on Control and Re source Management 
List to be read in conjunction with TN/TE/W/47 
Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
WATER FOR HUMAN 
USE AND 
WASTEWATER 
MANAGEMENT Policy objective  Millennium Development Goals: Goal 7, Environmental sustainability:  Halve the proportion of people without sustainable access 
to safe drinking water .  WSSD-Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (Jpol) , inter alia , paras 8 and 25:  Halve , by the year 2015, the proportion of 
people who are unable  to reach or to afford safe drinki ng water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic  sanitation .  JPoI, Chapter 
IV: Protecting and managing the natural resource  base of economic and social development.  JpoI 25 (d): Intensify water pollution prevention to 
reduce health hazards and protect ecosystems by introducing technologies for affordable sanitation and industrial and domestic wastewater treatment, by 
… establishing at national level, monitoring systems; 26 (e): Support the diffusion of technology and capacity-building for non -conventional water 
resources and conservation technologies; 26 (f): Support, where appropriate, efforts an d  programmes for energy-efficient, sust ainable and cost-effective 
desalination of seawater, water recycling and water harvesting from  coastal fogs in developing countries.  Para. 66 (d): Protec t water resources, 
including groundwater and wetland ecosystems … support efforts for developing non-conventional water resources. 
Water analysis, measurement and 
monitoring Thermometers, pyrometers, hydrometers, hygrometers, 
salinometer and parts thereof. 9025  
  Instruments for measuring or checking the flow, level, 
pressure or other variables of liquids and parts thereof. 9026  
  Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis 
of water and parts thereof. 9027  
  Automatic regulating or controlling instruments and 
apparatus for the regulation of gaseous or liquid fluids. 9032  
  Collecting and sampling equipment. 8479.89  
  Reagents for wate r analysis. 3822  
Water collection Rainwater catchment system.    
  Fog and/or dew catcher.    
Production of drinking water   Centrifugal pumps for water, whethe r dry well or submersible, and 
parts thereof. 8413 For water, wastewater and sludge.  
  Filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for water and parts 
thereof. 8421.21           
8421.99                                              Including sludge belt filter pr esses and belt thickeners.  
  Membranes for filters. See air treatment   
  Activated earths; activated carbons. 3802.10  
 Ion-exchangers.  3914;      3824.90  
  Aeration systems and aerators. 8479.89; 4016.99  
  Ejectors/Injectors for water treatme nt; liquid elevators. 8413.81; 8413.82  
  Distilling or rectifying plant eg seawater desalination systems. 8419.40  
  Evaporators and dryers, for water treatment. 8419.89   
  Ozonisers and parts thereof, UV disinfecti on technology. 8543.89; 8543.90 Water disinfection.  
 TN/TE/W/56 
Page 4 Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
  Chlorine dioxide generator.   Water disinfection. 
  System for operation and control of water and wastewater 
treatment ops. 8421   
Water handling equipment Cisterns, vats and reservoirs for drinking water, for 
households or industry, including for rainwater, made of 
plastic, concrete or metal. 6810.91;   7309;   7611   
  Gutters of concrete or polymers, and related articles 
(manhole cover, of cast iron  or steel, filters, etc).  6810.91;   7325.10;   7325.99;   
7326.90   
  Pipes for drinking water, wastewater and sea manhole, and 
accessories thereof.  6810.91;   6906;    7303; 7307   
  Pipes for water distribution and wastewater draining, and 
accessories thereof.  7304.31 to 7304.90;  
7306.30 to 7306.90; 7307 Includes pipes for sanitation, aspiration, feeding, 
canalisation, draining, etc. 
  Water consumption meters and parts thereof. 9028.20;   9028.90   
  Taps, cocks and valves for water an d wastewater.  8481.10 to 8481.80   
  Water saving shower. 7324.90   
  Water closet pans and flushing cisterns, urinals.  6910;        7324.90 Includes dry closets. 
Wastewater treatment Wastewater treatment plant. Wa stewater treatment unit, for 
individual use, and parts thereof.   e.g. Used by households or services companies.  A 
specific tariff code could be provided. 
 Other filtering and purifying machinery and apparatus for 
liquids. 8421.29  
  Septic tanks and other vats and reservoirs for wastewater 
treatment.  6810.91    7309   
  Machines and appliances  for solid/liquid separation, 
flocculation or thickening, whether or not compacting and 
bagging, of sewage sludge. 8479.89   
  Sludge driers & granulating machines. 8419.39   
  Sludge silos with independent functions. 8479.89   
  Cultures of micro-organisms and enzymes for the bio-
treatment of wastewater. 3002.90    3507.90   
 Limestone flux. 2521.00  
 Fabric of polyethylene/polypropylene/ nylon for filtering 
waste water. 5603.14   
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 Page 5Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
SOLID/ 
HAZARDOUS WASTE 
MANAGEMENT  JPoI, inter alia , 22 a): Develop waste management systems , with the highest priority placed on wast e prevention and minimization, reuse and 
recycling, and environmentally sound disposal facilities , including technology to recapture the energy contained in waste , and encourage small-
scale waste-recycling initiatives that support urban and rural waste management and provide income-generating opportunities, .. . 22 b): Promote waste 
prevention and minimization by encouraging production and reusable consumer goods and biodegradable products and developing the  infrastructure 
required.   
Waste  collection   Waste containers, whether or not combined with a 
compactor. 4819.30;  4819.40;   7309.00;   
7310.10;  
7310.29;   7612.90;   9403.20 Containers of any material, of any form, for liquid or 
solid waste, including for municipal or dangerous 
waste. 
  Recycling vehicles/ Refuse disposal vehicles. 8704 Including vehicles for the collection of industrial 
waste. 
  Containers specially designed and equipped for carriage of 
liquid or solid waste. 8609   
  Roller tables and other conveyers for feeding and removing 
waste. 8428.32 to 8428.39   
Waste  treatment and 
disposal, including 
recycling   Waste sorter devices. 8479.82   
  Sorting, screening, separating and washing machines for 
recycling waste (i.e. metals, plas tics, glass, paper, etc.), and 
parts thereof. 8474.10;   8479.82;    8479.90 A specific tariff code could be created for recycling 
plants and units. 
  Grinder, shredder, crusher, excluding food disposal units; 
Compactors for paper, plastic, board, cartons, etc., 
agglomerator, briquetter, pelletiser and other mixing equipments for waste. Parts thereof.       8474.20;   8479.82;    8439.10;   
8439.20;   8462.91;   8479.90;   
8439.99;   8466.94 Including waste separators.  
  Machinery for cleaning or drying bottles or other containers 
and parts thereof.     8422.20;   8422.90                           
  Fluorescent tubes treatment plants. 8479.82   
  Composting systems of organic matter :     
     - Containers and silos of, wood or metals. 4421;        7310.10   
     - Machinery, apparatus and vehicles for composting.  8479.89;   8704 e.g. Grinding and mixing machines for biowaste; 
Tunnels composed of a hermetic reactor with 
automatic aeration and feeding systems. 
  Thermal treatment/Incinera tion systems recovering energy , 
equipped with filters  for  atmospheric emissions control:   Includes combustion, gasification and pyrolysis 
technologies.   Includes sy stems for co-generation of 
heat and power.                  
     - Furnaces and ovens for the incineration/thermal 
treatment of waste;  parts thereof. 8417.80;   8417.90;   8419.89;   
8514 Includes fluidised bed systems (bubbling, circulating, 
etc.) and biomass boilers. 
     - Heat exchanger. 8419.50    
 TN/TE/W/56 
Page 6 Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
     Distilling or rectifying plant, including biogas refinement 
equipment. 8419.40   
     - Condenser; cooling towers. 8419.89   
     - Filtering systems for gas. 8421.39   
     - Biomass boilers and parts thereof;  Auxiliary plant and 
condensers for use with these boilers. 8402;        8403;              8404   
  Biological treatment of orga nic waste, including production 
of biogas:   Biological processes that convert organic matter into 
biogas and steam/electricity. 
     Biological treatment plant. 8479.89 A specific tariff code could be provided for plants. 
     Digestion tanks; Bi ogas reactor; biogas refinement 
equipment. 8419.89   
  Landfill gas monitoring system. 8479.89 Includes gasifier, feeding system, 
pressurised/atmospheric operation equipment, tar 
removal equipment, gas cl eaning equipment, etc for 
the control of landfill methane emissions. 
  Gas engine for the use of special gases (landfill gas, biogas, 
gas resulting from industrial processes). 8407.90   
  Landfill drainage mats, made of non-wovens, whether or not 
impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, of man-made 
filaments, of a weight exceeding 150 g/m². 5603.14 For leachate or gas landfill drainage. 
  Landfill leachate treatment equipment (leachate aerators and 
pumps, gas extraction wells…). 8479.89   
 Sheets and foils of polymeres of propylene. 3920.20  
Other sanitation Vehicles for urban and beach cleaning.  8705. 90 e.g. Litter sweeper, beach cleaning machines. 
  Machines for urban cleaning.  8479.10 e.g. Litter sweeper. 
PROTECTION OF 
AMBIENT AIR AND CLIMATE  Agenda 21 (chapter 9): development of pollution control and mea surement technologies for stationary and mobile sources of air pollution as well as 
of alternative environmentally sound technologies.                          
Air pollution measurement 
and monitoring  (gas, 
particles and aerosols in the 
environment and at the emission source)  Air quality monitor, Dust emissions monitor. Parts thereof. 9026;         9033   
  Gas, smoke and particles analysis apparatus, and parts 
thereof. 9027.10;    9033   
  Gas or smoke detectors and alarms, monitors, including 
sensors. Parts thereof. 8531.80;    8531.90;       9027;   
9033    
  TN/TE/W/56
 Page 7Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
Air purification, including 
odor control Filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for gas or 
air. 8421.31;    8421.39 Physical, mechani cal, chemical or electrostatic filters 
and purifyers for the removal of COV, solid or liquid 
particles in gases, etc. 
  Heat or catalytic incinerators (oxidisers) and parts thereof. 8417.80;    8417.90 COV destruction by heating of polluted air and 
oxydation of organic components. 
  Dust collection and storing equipment. 8479.89 Including Off-sheat and On-sheat dust control 
devices, flue dust recovery and transportation equipment. 
  Parts of filters: 8421.99   
  Activated carbons. 3802.10   
  Filter paper and paperboard;  Filter blocks, slabs and plates, 
of paper pulp. 4805.40;    4812   
  Polyurethane foam.  3921.13    
  Membranes for filters, of plastic, rubber or ceramics. 3921.1;      4016.99;   6909   
  Cellulose filters. 3920;         3921   
  Textile filters (sacks and other filtering products). 5603;         5911.90    
  Non-woven product of non-textile glass fiber. 7019.32;    7019.39 Boards or rolls of glass fiber for the manufacture of 
air filters. 
  Filters made of steel cloth. 7314.12   
Air handling Fans and parts thereof. 8414.59;    8414.90 Transport or extraction of polluted air and corrosive gases 
or dust. 
  Industrial hoods and parts thereof. 8414. 80;    8414.90 Ex : for exhaust gases. 
 Auxiliary plant for use with boilers of heading 8402 or 8403 (for 
example, economizers, super-heaters, soot removers, gas 
recoverers). 8404.10;   
PROTECTION AND 
REMEDIATION/ CLEANUP 
OF SOIL AND WATER  Protection of soil, in particul ar from pollution, erosion, land degradation, contamination and de sertification.  Sustainable u se of soil. 
 
Analysis Instruments and apparatus for physi cal or chemical analysis and 
parts thereof. 9027        Analysis of hydro carbons and heavy metals in the soil 
  Instruments and apparatus for m easuring or detecting ionising 
radiations and radioactiv ity and parts thereof. 9030.10 
903090   
  Soil sampling equipment. 8479.89   
Pollution control Inflatable oil spi ll recovery barges and tanks. 8907.10   
  Pollution protection booms, oil containment booms, oil absorbent 
booms. 3926.90;    5603.14;   8907.90   
  Oil skimmer, and parts thereof. 8421.19;    8421.91    
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Page 8 Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
  Machines and appliances for oil recovery; Oil spill and 
aquatic weed control harvesters. 8479.89 Including entire oil recovery systems and harvesters 
that have the ability to move on land and on water. 
  Flexible tanks for the storage of recovered oil or chemicals. 3925.10   
  Oil absorbent materials and kits of recycled paper and wood 
fibres, including in compressed format. 4823.70   
  Absorbant articles made of non-wovens, in the forms of 
sheets, rolls, pads, pillows, sweeps.  5603;        6307.10;   6307.90   
  Biodegradable surface-active pr eparations for emulsifying 
hydrocarbons in water or soil.  3402.90   
  Personal protective clothing and accessories (clothing, 
gloves, boots, helmets) 6210;        7019.90   
Soil cleaning/remediation Equipment and apparatus for cleaning or stabilising the soil. 8 479.89 Stripping, oil-water se parator, catalytic oxidisers, 
ultrafiltration apparatus, bio-remediation equipment, soil stabilisation and solidification equipment, etc. 
  Cultures of micro-organisms and enzymes for soil bio-
remediation. 3002.90;   3507.90 Bio-remediation. Also used for the biological 
treatment of wastewater. 
Soil protection Erosion control matting, biodegradable. 4601.20   
    
  Plastic geomembranes for soil protection, watertightness, 
anti-erosion of soil. 3920.10;   3920.43;    3920.49;   
3921.12 e. g. PVC or polyethylene plastic membrane systems 
to provide an impermeable base for landfill sites and 
protect soil under gas stations, oil refineries, etc. from infiltration by pollutants.  Reinforcement of 
soil. 
  Plastic or paper sheeting for water and heat saving. 3920 Plastic sheets for agriculture and horticulture, laid on 
the ground to retain the sun's heat, saving water and fertilisers and reducing infiltration into the 
groundwater. 
NOISE AND VIBRATION 
ABATEMENT  EC policy objective: substantial reduction of the number of people affected by noise,  in particular from traffic (reduction of noise emissions from 
services and products; mitigation of traffic noise). 
   
Noise measurement and 
analysis Instruments and apparatus for measuring, checking or 
analysing noise;  parts and accessories thereof. 9027.80;   9027.90   
Vibration measurement 
and analysis Instruments and apparatus for measuring, checking or 
analysing vibrations;  parts and accessories thereof. 9031.80;   9031.90 Vibrometers, hand vibration meters.  
  TN/TE/W/56
 Page 9Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
Noise and vibration 
abatement Soundproof panels and screens for outdoor uses. 3920;        3921   
  Panels, boards, tiles, blocks and similar articles of  
agglomerated cork. 4504   
  Felt, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or 
laminated, cut to size; Mattresses made of synthetic materials, for soundproofing. 5602.29;   5602.90;         5603   
  Slag wool, rock wool and similar mineral wools; exfoliated 
vermiculite, expanded clays, foamed slag and similar 
expanded mineral materials; mixtures and articles of heat-insulating, sound-insulating or sound-absorbing mineral 
materials, other than those of heading 6811 or 6812 or of 
Chapter 69. 6806   
  Panels, boards, tiles, blocks and similar articles of vegetable 
fibre, of straw or of shavings, chips, particles, sawdust and other waste of wood, agglomerated with cement, plaster or 
other mineral binders, used for soundproofing and thermal 
insulation. 6808 Includes insulation articles made of wood, waste, 
coir, true hemp, reed etc,  
  Multiple-walled insulating units of glass. 7 008 For soundproofing and thermal insulation of 
buildings. 
  Thin sheets, webs, mattresses, boards and similar non-
woven products of glass fibres, including glass wool. 7019.32;    7019.39 For soundproofing and thermal insulation of 
buildings. 
 Pads and casings for insulating tubes and pipes. 7019.90.30  
  Silencers and exhaust pipes for motor vehicles. 8708.92   
  Silencers for engines. 8409.91;    8409.99   
ENVIRONMENTAL 
MONITORING, 
ANALYSIS AND 
ASSESSMENT not already  included 
elsewhere Improve the data and information on the state and trends of the environment.   
JPoI , inter alia  para 38 g): Improve the systematic observation of the Earth's atmosphere, land and oceans by improving monitoring stations (…) . 
  
  Hydrological, oceanographic, meteorological instruments 
and appliances, and parts thereof. 9015.30;    9015.80;    9015.90 Includes levels, limnigraphs, seismic instruments, 
machinery and apparatus for measuring the ozone 
layer, etc.  
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Page 10 Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
RENEWABLE ENERGIES JPoI, inter alia ,  para 9  : […] to improve access to reliable and affordable energy services for sustainable development sufficient to facilitate the achie vement of the 
Millennium Development Goals, including the goal of halving the proportion of people in poverty by 2015, by improving access to  sustainable energy services and 
resources, and as a means to generate other important services that mitigate poverty,., bearing in mind that access to energy f acilitates the eradication of poverty. 9 (a) 
[...] enhance[d] rural electrification and decentralised energy systems,  increased use of renewables [...]. Para 20 c) : Develop and disseminate alternative energy 
technologies with the aim of giving a greater share of the energy mix to renewable energies.     Climate change : greenhouse gas emissions reduction and prevention 
by encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.                            
Solar energy       
Solar heating (Solar water 
heater, solar swimming pool 
heater, solar space heating 
system) Solar collector and solar system controller:     
  Solar absorber.     
  Insulation.     
  Heat exchanger. 8419.50   
  Temperature sensor.     
  Differential temperature controller.     
  Evacuated glass tubes.     
  Heat pipes.     
  Solar pre-heating storage tank. 7309;      7611;      3925.10   
Solar Photovoltaics (PV 
generator) PV module. 8541.40 The whole system  is classified under 8502.39. 
  PV system controller.     
  Deep discharge (solar) battery.     
  PV module mounting/frame.     
  Parts:      
    Solar cells. 8541.40   
Solar thermal power generation Heliostats, parabolic mirrors.     
  Sun tracking mountings.     
  Solar boiler (water heater). 8419.19   
  Parts thereof.     
Other solar technologies Parabolic mirrors for el ectricity production and pa rts thereof.      
 Solar inverter. 8504.40 Converts solar energy into electricity. 
  Solar pumping system & parts thereof.     
  Solar cooking system & parts thereof.     
  Portable solar power generation equipm ent and parts thereof.   Composed of a solar PV generator and accumulators.  
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 Page 11Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
  Solar desalinisator and parts thereof.     
Wind energy       
Wind generator Wind turbine. 8502.31   
  Components:      
    Nacelle.     
    Wind turbine blade.     
    Wind turbine gearbox.     
    Wind turbine tower. 7308.20   
    Electric generator for wind turbine, and parts thereof. 8502.31;    8503   
Wind pump Wind powered pumping system.     
  Components:     
    Nacelle.     
    Wind turbine blade.     
    Wind turbine gearbox.     
    Wind turbine tower.     
    Water pump for use with wind turbine. 8413 See above. 
Hydropower Small hydro powered generating plant. 8502.39 
    - Hydraulic turbines and water wheels of a power not 
exceeding 1000 kW an d parts thereof. 8410.11;   8410.90 
    - Generator for use in the above hydro-power plant.  8502.39 Due to their negative environmental impact, large 
hydro-power plants are excluded from  this category. 
The economic potential of small hydro power plants 
(<10MW), if correctly planned, is far more important. 
Wave power Wave power generating plant. 8502.39   
Geothermal power 
generation Geothermal energy sensor system.     
  Heat pumps and parts thereof. 8419.50 Includes pumps for air cooling. 
  Space aeration system, with  heat recovery.     
Bio-energy       
Bio-electricity and bio-heat 
from waste See above: "Waste treatment  and disposal, including 
recycling" for combustion/incineration and landfill gas 
production from waste. 7304.10;    7305.10;   7306.10;   
8501.10;  
8501.20;    8501.30 
9026.80;    9028.10;  8417.80 Biomass exploitation needs careful resource 
management if it is to be sustainable.  Since practice 
can vary, examples chosen for this list focus on  
waste recovery  (agricultural and forestry residues, 
biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste). 
 Biomass combined heat and power plant. 8502.13;    8502.39  
  
 TN/TE/W/56 
Page 12  
 European Communities: Environmental Goods List Part B  - Goods with high environm ental performance/low environmental impacts 
List to be read in conjunction with TN/TE/W/47 
Sector/Activity Product examples HS Code 
(indicative) Remarks 
  Policy Objectives Agenda 21 (chapter 4) and WSSD : promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.                                               
VEGETABLE PLAITING 
MATERIALS Vegetable plaiting materials and other 
vegetable products of Chapter 14.  Chapter 14 For instance materials made of bamboo or rattan (i.e. non-
wood forest products). Bamboo grows to harvestable 
conditions in 4-5 years (much faster than slow-growing hardwoods, to which it offers alternative solutions) and 
can be harvested sustainably,  without killing it.  Bamboo 
can be of great use to rehabilitate and reclaim degraded 
(agricultural) land, to protect rivers banks and hill slopes 
against soil erosion and to help regenerate tropical forests. Rattan has similar characteristics. 
PULPS OF FIBROUS 
CELLULOSIC 
MATERIAL Pulps of fibres derived from recovered fibrous 
cellulosic material, no t chemically treated. 4706.10;   4706.91 Contributes to the recovery of waste products. Includes 
pulps of jute, flax, true hemp, sisal, etc (see below). 
VEGETABLE TEXTILE 
FIBRES Vegetable textile fibres and articles thereof 
(yarn and woven fabrics) of Chapter 53. Chapter 53, excluding paper yarn and 
woven fabrics of paper yarn (ex 5308.90 and 5311.00). Includes vegetable fibres such as flax, hemp, jute, sisal, 
coconut, abaca and ramie. These fibres are a renewable resource;  they require low in put of energy, fertilisers and 
crop protection chemicals; their total carbon dioxide 
balance is neutral to positive and they are fully biodegradable. 
OTHER NATURAL PRODUCTS Vegetable waxes; Beeswax and other insect 
waxes. 1521.10;   1521.90 Products harvested on trees without deforestation. 
  Unrefined shea butter. 1515.90 Shea butter is extracted from the fru its of the wild shea 
tree, in Sahelian Africa. These trees do not need any 
irrigation, fertilizers or pes ticides and are not grown in 
plantations. 
  3404 Preparations exclusively made of a mixture of vegetable 
and/or animal waxes. 
SUSTAINABLE 
AGRICULTURE OR GARDENING EU Action Plan Organic Food/Farming (2004) 
    
Organic fertilisers Animal or vegetable fertilisers. 3101 Organic fertilis ers are an essential input to organic farming. 
Natural pest control Pyrethrum, extracts of pyrethrum or of the roots of 
plants containing rotenone 1211.90;   1302.14 Natural occurring botan ical pesticides used in organic 
agriculture. 
  Insecticides and other pest control preparations 
exclusively made of natural materials, put up in 
forms or packings for retail sale. 3808.10 Naturally derived (microbial or  botanical insec ticides) used in 
organic agriculture.  
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 Page 13Sector/Activity Product Examples  HS Code (indicative) Remarks 
ENERGY EFFICIENCY 6th EAP : Promotion of energy efficiency in buildings  
Low consumption bulbs Compact fluorescent lamps. 8539 Reduction of energy consumption. Lifetime between 6.000 
and 12.000 hours. Energy effi ciency : 90% of the energy 
used is transformed into light (5% for a classic bulb). 
Recyclable packaging. 
 Fluorescent tubes. 8539 Lifetime around 10.000 hours, up to over 20.000 hours. 
SUSTAINABLE 
TRANSPORT  Agenda 21  (chapter 9) : development and promotion of more efficient, less polluting and safer transport systems; JPoI, inter alia , para 21 : [..] 
providing safe, affordable and efficient tr ansportation, increasing energy efficiency, 21 (a) [..] reducing greenhouse gas emis sions, congestion, adverse 
health effects and limiting urban sprawl by developing better vehicle technology  and 21 (b [..] multi-modal transportation systems , including public 
mass transportation systems .  Climate change, Kyoto Protocol : reduction of collective emissions of six key greenhouse gases by at least 5% below 
1990 levels by 2008-12 for developed countries.  Devel opment of sustainable transport in developing countries.  
Public transport of 
persons/transport of goods  Rail locomotives powered  from an external 
source of electricity or by electric 
accumulators. 8601 Rail transport, especially electrified, is conducive to 
sustainable transport solutions  (energy efficiency, low air 
pollution, low GHG emissions).  
  Self-propelled railway  or tramway coaches, 
vans and trucks, other than those of heading 
8604, powered from an external source of 
electricity or by electric accumulators. 8603 Includes underground train. 
  Railway or tramway goods vans and wagons, 
not self-propelled. 8606   
  Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or 
rolling-stocks mentioned above. 8607   
  Equipment for railways or tramways. 8608   
  Containers specially designed and equipped for 
carriage by one or more modes of transport. 8609.00   
Other forms of sustainable 
transport Barges and similar vessels for the transport of 
persons or goods, on inland waterways.  Parts thereof. 8901.90 Inland waterways are a su stainable alternative to road 
transport (energy efficiency , safe, lower air pollution). 
 ECO-LABELLED 
PRODUCTS  Products that have a label delivered by an 
ecolabelling organisation member of the 
Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN).   GEN labels are ISO "type I" eco-labelling schemes that 
meet the general requirements and principles of ISO 14024 
(including  objective and scientifically-based criteria that take into account the life-cycle of the product). 
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