EM-02-01

Official Guidelines for Establishing and Revising Product Category and Certification
Criteria
Japan Environment Association[Objectives of the guidelines, etc.]
For transparent and fair administration of the program, these guidelines, etc., shall define guidelines andprocedure for matters to be handled by each committee in establishment, revision, etc. of Eco Markproduct categories/certification criteria.
These Guidelines are the written documents of procedures that have hitherto been executed for the Eco
Mark Program, supplementing the requirements for ISO Type I Environmental Labelling Standards(ISO14024, corresponding standard: JIS Q14024) and ISO14020 (corresponding standard: JIS Q14020)
and the necessary requirements for "World Trade Organization / Agreement on Technical Barriers to
Trade (WTO/TBT Agreement).
If these guidelines are revised or abolished, based on a proposal of the Eco Mark Planning and Strategy
Committee (hereafter referred to as “Planning and Strategy Committee”), Eco Mark Criteria Deliberation
Committee (hereafter referred to as “Criteria Deliberation Committee”),

Product Category-based

Criteria Development Committees (hereinafter referred to as “Criteria Development Committees”) or Eco
Mark Office (hereafter referred to as the “Office”), the Director General of Japan Environment
Association shall establish or enact with the consent of a majority of members in the Eco Mark Steering
Committee (hereafter referred to as “Steering Committee”).
Contents
I. Selecting Product CategoryI-1. Policies for Selecting Product CategoryI-2. Procedures for Selecting Product Category
II. Development of Certification Criteria
II-1. Policies for Developing Certification Criteria
II-2. Procedures for Developing Certification Criteria
II-3. Description Areas and the Format of Certification Criteria
III. Review of Product Category
III-1.Policies for Reviewing Product Category
III-2. Procedures for Reviewing Product Category and Partial Revision of Certification Criteria
Regulations
I. Regulations of Planning and Strategy Committee
II. Regulations of Criteria Deliberation Committee
III. Regulations of Product Category-based Criteria Development Committees

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I. Selecting product categoryI-1. Policies for Selecting Product Category
The selection of a new category by Planning and Strategy Committee is based on the following policies.
1. Policy for selecting product category
The product category adopted shall be totally evaluated by following policies and selected.
1) The Eco Mark Certification Criteria shall have big effect on society.
2) The environmental load can be greatly reduced by selecting/use of the certified products.
3) The established certification criteria can change/lead more business enterprises to realize
sustainable society.
4) The dissemination of certified products can change/lead more consumers to realize sustainable
society.
2. Items to be considered for selecting Product Category
The following items are desirable to be considered for selecting a new product category.
1) Presence or absence of effect for reduction of environmental load through the whole life cycle of the
product (resource extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use/consumption, disposal and recycling
stages)2) Possibility to establish objective certification criteria based on scientific methods
Note) It shall be in conformity with ISO 14020 “Principle 3”, item 4.4.2.
3) Clarity of main items for environmental load to be improved for the product category selected
4) Market size, market share and possibility of dissemination, characteristics of the product’s field, etc.
5) Request from business enterprises/consumers toward selecting of a product category6) Possibility to handle within the existing product category
7) Products coming under a selected product type are considered appropriate from an environmental
ethics perspective when any of the conditions (1) through (3) apply to them.
(1) They are not products that bring about unnecessary consumption from an environmental
perspective, like disposable products (products that are not durable for repeated use)
(2) Products that aim to essentially solve environmental issues or prevent the worsening of theenvironment.
(3) Other products that do not invite misunderstanding of consumers when they are trying tounderstand the significance of the Eco Mark.
8) Presence or absence of social aspects, including economic aspects, that is closely related with theselected product category and desirable to be worked with.
3. Concept of product category (Applicable Scope)EM-02-01
1) Product category should be established for different functions as far as possible.
2) The applicable scope adopted in the Product Category shall be set within the range of
purpose/concept of the criteria.
Note 1) Examples of functional categories based on the provisions in “3.3 Selection of Product
Function Characteristics” in “ISO14024”: “Paper products”- “Paper for communication”,“Printer paper”, “Wrapping paper”, etc.
Note 2) Examples of applicable scope: “Paints not containing aromatic hydrocarbons”→ “Paints”,“Offset printing ink”→ “Printing ink” , etc.
* Use the middle classification of the Japan Standard Commodity Classification as a guide.

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Guidelines
I. Selecting Product CategoryI-2. Procedures for Selecting Product Category
1. Product category selection
The Planning and Strategy Committee shall review and select a new product category that matches “I-1.
Policies for Selecting Product Category”.
2. Accept proposal of product category
The Eco Mark product category proposal shall be made as following two ways.
A. Category selection based on suggestions from the Eco Mark Office
B. Category selection based on suggestions from suppliers, consumers, or third parties**The terms "suppliers, consumers and third parties" are based on the same classifications made in
Section 3.7 of the ISO14024.

1) New proposals of the Eco Mark product category (hereinafter referred to as “proposals for a new
category”) are accepted from suppliers, consumers, and other third parties.
2) The Eco Mark Office shall accept application of proposals for a new category by means of the
Eco Mark website, etc. at least once a year during the certain period of time set.
3. Product Category selection procedures
The procedures for selecting product category basically follow the procedures in Chapter 6 "Section 6.3
Selection of Product Categories" in the ISO14024.
The procedures for selecting product category shall follow the items below, in accordance with the “I-1.
Policy for selecting product category” while Planning and Strategy Committee considers the proposals
for new categories made by suppliers, consumers, or third parties.
1) Review by the Planning and Strategy Committee
The Planning and Strategy Committee shall consider a candidate for a new product category on
the basis of social trends such as environmental problems to be stressed, consumption patterns,
etc.
2) Information collection by Planning and Strategy Committee
Planning and Strategy Committee conducts information collection on proposal and hearings toproposers as needed.
3) Holding of Hearings
It shall be possible to hold hearings under the direction of the Planning and Strategy Committee. A
person who hears opinions shall be a member of the Planning and Strategy Committee, and an
opinion presenter shall be a person to be summoned among opinion submitters as it is determined
necessary to directly hear his/her opinion or a person to be designated by the Planning andEM-02-01
Strategy Committee.
4) Selection by Planning and Strategy Committee
The Planning and Strategy Committee shall go through steps 1) to 3) above and narrow down
product category candidates for which establishment of the Criteria Development Committee isconsidered. When it becomes possible to establish the Criteria Development Committee, acandidate shall be selected/announced as a new product category.
5) Announce/Notice of the result of selection
The result of selection by Planning and Strategy Committee would be announced as follows.
(1) Selected as a new product category- The name of the product category and the reasons of selection would be announced on the
Eco Mark web site.
- The office will notify proponents of the purport of the selection.
- Following the "Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)" of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), the said new product category shall be published on the web site as awork programme in both Japanese and English at least once every 6 months. The existenceof the work programme shall be notified to the ISO/IEC Information Centre by way ofJapanese Standards Association.
- Then, the office conducts the procedures for establishing certification criteria in accordancewith “II-2. Procedures for Establishing Certification Criteria”.
(2) Not selected as a new product category- The Office would notice the result, “not selected” to a proponent.

EM-02-01
Guidelines
II. Development of Certification Criteria

II-1. Policies for Developing Certification Criteria
Certification criteria shall be developed under the following policies.
1. Policy for developing certification criteria
Procedures described in ‘6.4 Selection and development of product environmental criteria’ and ‘6.5
Selection of Product Function Characteristics’ laid down in ISO14024 shall be adhered to whendeveloping certification criteria and ‘General Rules 5.2 - 5.8, 5.10, 5.12, 5.14 and 5.17’ shall be satisfied.
Also, in order to develop the certification criteria, the following 1) to 3) shall be satisfied.
1) Use the Guidelines for the Eco Mark Program Implementation, Table 1 “Chart for Selecting
Environmental Evaluation Items at Product Life Stages”, and consider the impacts on theenvironment through the life cycle of the product as a whole. Then develop the certification criteria tosatisfy the following levels; i) the impact on the environment caused by resource extraction,
manufacturing, distribution, use/consumption, disposal and recycling is relatively small compared toother similar products; or ii) the environmental loads caused by the other causes of the productusage can be reduced. In addition, trade-off of environmental impact shall be considered.
2) For achieving the purpose of the product category, select high-priority items among the options ofCertification Criteria items.
3) Develop Certification Criteria to change/lead more business enterprises and consumers towardrealizing sustainable society.
2. Specific points to note for developing certification criteria
1) The scope for discussing certification criteria shall be as the following (1) to (3).
(1) The criteria item focused on contributing to a decrease in environmental loads shall be set inprinciple in accordance with the definition of ISO14024 “Type I environmental label”(2) Any criteria item including social aspects that is closely related with the applicable productcategory and desired to be worked with shall be considered. Furthermore, economic aspects
such as contribution to the circular economy shall be taken into account in the course of settingthese criteria items.
(3) The quality criteria shall be set for each product category as needed.
2) For tests, etc. required by certification criteria, cost and/or duration of time, etc. required for tests
shall be examined to be reasonable for applicants in order to accept as many participations as
possible.
3) To conduct objective inspection, criteria for quantitative evaluation shall be set, and qualitative
criteria (report) shall be avoided as much as possible.
4) Criteria regarding domestic laws and regulations which must be naturally observed by applicants
shall be avoided as much as possible.

EM-02-01
5) Among items not selected as certification criteria, desirable items and/or items which should beconsidered for the next revision can be set as “consideration items”.
6) Table 1 “Chart for Selecting Environmental Evaluation Items at Product Life Stages” may bechanged in accordance with the characteristics of the product category.
3. Validity period of Certification Criteria
Regarding the validity period of Certification Criteria shall be for five years in principle, and can be sevenyears as maximum length. As described in III-1. 1. 3), the validity period can be extended. In some cases,
the validity period can be extended as needed through the approval of Planning and Strategy
Committee.
Table 1 "Chart for Selecting Environmental Evaluation Items at Product Life Stages”
Product Life Stages
Environmental
evaluation items
1. Resource saving
and recycling
2. Prevention of
global warming
3. Restriction andcontrol ofHazardous
Substances
4. Conservation of
biodiversity

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Resource Manufacture Distribution Use,
Recycleextraction
Consumption

F.
Disposal

EM-02-01

II. Development of Certification Criteria

II-2. Procedure for Developing Certificate Criteria
1. Establishing Criteria Development Committee
Criteria Development Committee would be established for each new product category selected inaccordance with “I-2. Policies for Selecting Product Category”, and for the product category which was
judged that “total revision” is necessary in accordance with “III-1. Policies for Reviewing ProductCategory”. With the advance approval of the Criteria Deliberation Committee, the Office will be able todevelop a draft of certification criteria, instead of establishing the Criteria Development Committee.
2. Committee members selection procedure1) The Office shall make the list for candidates of Criteria Development Committee members as
follows.
-

Accept recommendation of members from enterprises/organizations widely by means of the Eco
Mark website, etc.

-

Receive

recommendation

andintroduction

frombusiness-relatedorganizations

andconsumer-related organizations (consumer organization, environment NGO, etc.).
-

The Office recommends experts and knowledgeable persons (i.e. university professors andresearchers) in neutral organizations

2) The Director General of the Japan Environment Association shall select and delegate the members
for management of Criteria Development Committee based on the list on the above 1). The
members shall be three or more persons, consisting of those from suppliers, consumers, experts
and knowledge persons in neutral organizations related to the product category. Name of committee
members involving in preparing proposals for certification criteria shall not be open to public.
3. Development of draft of certification criteria
Draft of certification criteria shall be developed by Criteria Development Committee in accordance with
‘II-1. Policies for Developing Certification Criteria’.
1) The Office shall accept opinions through the Eco Mark website, etc. and listen to the opinions fromconsumer-related organizations, etc. regarding policy of developing the draft of the certification
criteria and major environmental evaluation items, etc., before developing the draft of Certification
Criteria for the new product category.
2) The Criteria Development Committee shall fully consider the result of 1) for developing the draft ofthe certification criteria.
3) When the Office develops a draft of certification criteria with the approval of the Criteria Deliberation
Committee, the Office shall collect opinions and information widely through interviewing concerned
persons and researches.

EM-02-01

4. Procedure for announcement of draft of certification criteria/acceptance of opinions
4.1 Procedure for announcing the draft of certification criteria
1) The Criteria Development Committee shall consult the Criteria Deliberation Committee the draft
certification criteria it developed.
2) The Criteria Deliberation Committee shall discuss the draft certification criteria from a technicalstandpoint. The draft of certification criteria shall be announced after going through the discussionof the Criteria Deliberation Committee. Then, the Criteria Deliberation Committee can request theCriteria Development Committee to reexamine the draft certification criteria.
3) It should be possible for the Criteria Development Committee members involved in developing therelevant draft of certification criteria to attend the Criteria Deliberation Committee and express
opinions on proposals for certification criteria.
4) If a reexamination of the draft certification criteria is requested in 2) above, the corresponding
proposals for certification criteria shall be announced after being reexamined by the Criteria
Development Committee.
5) The procedures 1)-4) above shall be followed even when the Eco Mark Office develops a draft
certification criteria with the approval of the Criteria Deliberation Committee,
4.2 Announcement of draft of certification criteria by the Office1) The draft of certification criteria is published by the Office in accordance with the deliberation resultsof Criteria Deliberation Committee and Criteria Development Committee on Eco Mark website inboth Japanese and English.
2) Following the "Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)" of the World Trade Organization(WTO), prior to 1) above, the product category name, outline of the draft certification criteria, period
for commenting and deviation from relevant international standards shall be announced on the Eco
Mark website in both Japanese and English.
4.3 Acceptance of opinions
1) Written opinions concerning the above 4.2 1) announcement of the draft certification criteria is
accepted within the specified period (retained for 30 days) by e-mail, post, facsimile, or suchlike.
Only written opinions including the following requirements are accepted. Also, all submitted opinions
must be written in Japanese.
- Name- Address- Telephone number- Facsimile number- E-mail address- Occupation

EM-02-01- Eco Mark product category on which opinions are being made- Opinions on the above draft certification criteria
2) Concerning the above 4.2 2) announcement of the draft certification criteria, opinions from WTO
member countries are accepted (retained for 60 days).
5. Modification of the announced draft based on submitted opinions
1) A modified draft of the certification criteria and replies to opinions shall be prepared by Criteria
Development Committee which has been involved in developing the concerned draft of certification
criteria and the Office in accordance with opinions submitted.
2) It should be possible to hold a meeting to hear opinions under the instruction of Criteria Development
Committee, etc. Opinions shall be collected by members of Criteria Development Committee andpresented by selected persons who have submitted opinions so that their opinions may be heard
directly as well as any others specified by Criteria Development Committee.
6. Establishment of Certification Criteria
1) Certification criteria shall be established by the Japan Environment Association after deliberation by
Criteria Development Committee. Note, however, that if the established criteria has been
substantially changed from the announced draft, it shall go through re-deliberation of the Criteria
Deliberation Committee.
2) Announcements concerning the establishment of certification criteria are carried out by theOffice asfollows.
1. Establishment of the new product category certification criteria shall be announced in the Eco
Mark Kouhou (mail magazine) and on the Eco Mark website. The established certification criteria
is published on the website in both Japanese and English.
2. An outline of the opinions submitted and the replies shall be presented (names of people who
submitted opinions shall not be specified) on the Eco Mark website in accordance with theresults of Criteria Development Committee deliberations.
3. The established certification criteria shall be published on the Eco Mark web site as a work
programme in both Japanese and English at least once every 6 months. The existence of thework programme shall be notified to the ISO/IEC Information Centre by way of JapaneseStandards Association.

EM-02-01
II. Development of Certification Criteria

II-3. Description Areas and the Format of Certification Criteria
1) Format of certification criteria
The following ‘Contents of the Certification Criteria Format’ shall be followed.
2) Details of each item described in the certification criteria
The attached ‘description details of each item in the certification criteria format’ shall be followed.
[Contents of the Certification Criteria Format]• Certification criteria
A front cover shall be affixed to each written certification criteria. The front cover shall carry thefollowing information:
・Product category number

・Product category name・Establishment date and latest revision date・List of applicable products

・Expiration date・Name of establisher (Japan Environment Association, Eco Mark Office)Product category numbers, product category nameName of establisher (Japan Environment Association, Eco Mark Office)
1. Purpose of Establishing Certification Criteria
2. Applicable Scope
3. Terminology
4. Certification criteria
4-1. Environmental criteria and certification procedure
4-2. Quality criteria and certification procedure
5. Product Classification, Indication and Others
Establishment date(Revision date, revised part and version number)
Expiration date
6. Appendix, exhibit, etc., defined in the certification criteria
7. Attached certificates• Interpretation
The word Interpretation is given at the top left of the front page.
Supplementary explanations for each item (only required items)
1. Background of establishment of product categories
2. Supplementary explanations on the scope and definition of terms (only required items)
3. Process of developing certification criteria
4. Other supplementary explanations (only required items)

EM-02-01
Attached Sheet [Description details of each item in the certification criteria format]• Certification criteria
Product category number
Sets from 101 in the establishment date order.
A version number is assigned following the version of the certification criteria under the same productcategory (the version number consists of the Integer number and a decimal point and it starts from 1.0).
For a newly established certification criteria after the full revision, the integer of the version number of theprevious criterial is carried forward. For a partially revised certification criteria, the decimal point of theversion number is carried forward.
Product category name
A general term for applicable products of the product category is desirable. The corresponding version
number is put at the end of the product category name,Name of establisher‘Japan Environment Association, Eco Mark Office’ which is the main organization implementing theEco Mark Program shall be the name of the establisher in accordance with the Guidelines for Eco Mark
Program Implementation. The name of the establisher shall be clearly described in the right corner
below the name of the product category on the written certification criteria of product categories.
1. Purpose of establishing certification criteria
The reason for setting the product category concerned and the relationship between the said category
and the environment are described.
2. Applicable Scope
The product range in which the product category concerned is handled is clearly described.
3. Terminology
Terms used in the product category concerned are clearly defined.
4. Certification criteria
This comprises the following two items.
4-1. Environmental criteria and Certification procedure
Criteria related to the environment are regulated to certify applicable products of the concerned
product category as Eco Mark products and certification procedure for conforming certification
criteria.
There are the following environmental criteria.

EM-02-01
1) Conformity with laws
2) Absolute criteria (Whether acceptable or not. Example: Must not contain prohibited substances,etc.)3) Numeric criteria (Numeric criteria is used to specify whether acceptable or not.
Example: Restrictions on quantity contained)
4) Quantitative criteria (Numeric data is submitted and may not be accepted depending on thecase. Example: Excessive quantity must not be used.)5) Reporting criteria (Reports are simply required but no judgment is made on the reported details.
Example: package status, quantity of fluorescent whitening agents used, energy expended,etc.)
Method for Certifying Conformity with the Criteria
The priority order of methods for evaluating conformity stated in ISO14024 “5.10 Compliance andVerification” shall be followed:
1) ISO and IEC standards2) Other internationally accepted standards
3) Regional and national standards4) Other techniques that can be repeatedly implemented and reproducible, according to theprinciple accepted by excellent testing laboratories
5) Evidentiary material of a manufacturer
There are the following types of certificates:
1) Certificate by a third-party institution2) Evidentiary material of a manufacturer (e.g., having a collection system, each material being
separatable when a product is discarded, etc.)
3) Evidentiary material of an applicant* A certificate by a third-party institution shall refer to a certificate issued by a public testinglaboratory or an institution (excluding any institution of one’s own company or affiliated company)that is recognized to have a test capability.
4-2. Quality criteria and certification criteria
Criteria concerning product function characteristics are regulated to certify the applicable productsof the concerned product category as Eco Mark products.
As a general rule, existing quality standards shall be adopted as the criteria in this section rather
than being specified independently by the Japan Environment Association. It should be confirmed,
however, that there are no environmental preservation problems with the quality criteria.
Written evidence shall be submitted by manufacturers for products without existing quality
standards if required, and results of self-conducted tests should be included.

EM-02-01
Consideration shall be given to what kind of quality standards shall be applied for any such quality
standards other than those established by ISO, IEC and the government to prevent discrepancies
being generated between areas or test organizations.
Method for Certifying Conformity with the Criteria
Same as 4-1 above
5. Product Classification, Indication and Others
Product category indicates the product range that can be defined as the same application. Generally,each product brand name is treated as one product category.
Establishment date (Revision date)
A date within 30 days of the issuance date of the Eco Mark Kouhou (mail magazine) or the release
date on Eco Mark website announcing the establishment shall be specified as the establishment
date . A date of revision shall also conform to this.
Expiration date
Written certification criteria of this product category shall revise the written certification criteria or
abolish a product category, as needed.
6. Appendix, exhibit, etc. defined in the certification criteria
7. Attached Certificates
This is a collection of forms for certifying conformity in accordance with certification criteria. It shallconsist of the following 2 types of forms:(1) A certificate that an applicant submits to the Eco Mark Office to show conformity with thecertification criteria, in Eco Mark product certification examination (In principle, submission of
the certificate shall be obligatory. However, a certificate separately prepared by an applicant
may replace if necessary items can be checked.
(2) Entry example regarding a certificate form to be issued by an applicant, etc.
The Office is responsible for the management of Attached Certificates, and updates them forthwith tothe latest forms after the full review or partial revision of certification criteria.
• Interpretation
Interpretations are described to present details of discussions conducted by Criteria Development
Committee and to maintain their transparency, and comprised of the following supplementary items.
- Environmental background (Purpose for establishment of the corresponding product category,relation of the product category with the environment, etc.)

EM-02-01- Supplementary explanations concerning definition of terms, scope of applicable products andenvironmental background- Process for selecting items as certification criteria and background summary- Other supplementary explanations concerning certification criteria

EM-02-01

III. Review of Product Category

III-1. Policies for Reviewing Product Category
1. Policy for Reviewing Product Category
The product category in about two years before the end of the expiration of criteria shall be judged their
future handling, such as total revision, discontinuance at the current expiration date, or extension of thevalidity period, in accordance with the following 1) to 3).
1) The product category which falls on the following items shall be revised totally.
(1) Raising the level of criteria such as increased standard values would greatly contribute to realize
sustainable society.
(2) Criteria items which have not been covered in the existing product category shall be included
because the new environmental issues which should be solved have arisen due to improvementof scientific knowledge and change of social circumstance.
(3) Purpose and concept for establishing the product category shall be drastically reviewed.
(4) There are requests for drastic revision from suppliers, consumers, experts and knowledgeable
persons in neutral organizations.
2) The following product category shall be discontinued at the end of the current expiration date.
(1) It is judged by related parties that the criteria are not appropriate any more.
(2) There is no significance to be covered by Eco Mark product category.
3) The product category which is considered to be worth for maintaining the current certification criteria
and further dissemination and promotion, would be extended the expiration date. The maximum
extension is five-year length of time. The expiration date may be re-extended.

EM-02-01
III. Review of Product Category

III-2. Procedures for Reviewing Product Category and Partial Revision of
Certification Criteria
1. Procedures for Reviewing Product Category
Product categories are reviewed in line with the following procedure.
1) For the Product Categories in about two years before the end of the expiration of the criteria,
opinions are widely accepted through the Eco Mark website, etc.
2) Based on the opinions collected by the 1), Planning and Strategy Committee shall discuss andapprove the handling of product categories, such as total revision, discontinuance at the current
expiration date, or extension of the expiration date.
3) The name of applicable product categories and the outline of review in 2) shall be announced on the
Eco Mark website. In accordance with the "Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)" of theWorld Trade Organization (WTO), they shall be published on the website as a work programme inboth Japanese and English at least once every 6 months. The existence of the work programmeshall be notified to the ISO/IEC Information Centre by way of Japanese Standards Association.
4) The product categories which need to be totally revised shall conduct procedures for revision inaccordance with “II-2. Procedures for Developing Certificate Criteria”. In this process, Criteria
Development Committee shall fully consider the opinions collected by 1) on the above.
2. Partial revision of certification criteria
In the event that minor and partial revisions of the certification criteria are required, revisions can be
carried out in accordance with the following procedure separately from 1.
1) The Eco Mark office shall prepare the draft for certification criteria after hearing opinions of theCriteria Development Committee members who developed the corresponding certification criteria orinterested parties.
2) Revised draft of certification criteria is deliberated by Criteria Deliberation Committee.
3) Certification criteria are revised and announced by the Japan Environment Association inaccordance with the deliberation results of Criteria Deliberation Committee. The name of applicableproduct categories and the outline of revision 1) shall be announced on the Eco Mark website. The
revised certification criteria shall be published on the website in both Japanese and English.

(Rider)1 Established / in effect from 1st April, 2010
2 Revised: April 1st, 2013 (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
3 Revised: April 1st, 2022 (addition of version numbering, management of Attached Certificates)

EM-02-01
Regulations

I. Regulations of Planning and Strategy Committee
The establishment of Planning and Strategy Committee shall comply with Chapters 1-3 of the Guidelines
for Eco Mark Program Implementation(Management issues)
Article 1.
The following issues shall be managed by Planning and Strategy Committee.
(1) Planning of dissemination and promotional strategy of Eco Mark
(2) Selection, review and discontinuance of Eco Mark product categories(3) Other related matters(Configuration and entrustment of committee members)
Article 2.
Planning and Strategy Committee shall comprise of 10 or less members who are entrusted by the
Director General of the Japan Environment Association from Eco Mark Office and the following experts.
(1) Experts in environmental preservation, environmental education, environmental economics,
green purchasing, etc.
(2) Intellectuals in the administrative organs concerned, the consumer affairs, etc.
(Term of the committee members)
Article 3.
The term of the committee members shall be for one year. However, members may be reappointed.
(Committee chairperson)
Article 4.
1) The chairperson shall be appointed in Planning and Strategy Committee.
2) The chairperson shall supervise Planning and Strategy Committee
3) In the event that the chairperson is unavoidably absent, an acting chairperson previously designatedby the chairperson shall take the role.
(Holding of Planning and Strategy Committee)
Article 5.
1) Planning and Strategy Committee shall be convened and chaired by the chairperson of thecommittee.
2) The Committee shall not be open to the public.

EM-02-01(Quorum and numbers required for decision-making at the meeting)
Article 6.
1) Proceedings can be held and decisions made only when more than half of the committee members
attend the meeting. However, members who submit prior written notification of their intentions anddecisions regarding the concerned proceedings shall be defined as attendants.
2) Decisions shall be made when more than half of those attending agree. If voting is evenly split, thechairperson shall cast the deciding vote.
3) In the event that a committee member is unavoidably absent, a proxy who has previously been
designated by that member shall be able to attend and vote on his/her behalf.
(Rider)1) Established / in effect from 1st April, 2010

EM-02-01
Regulations

II. Regulations of Criteria Deliberation Committee
The establishment of Criteria Deliberation Committee shall comply with Chapters 1-3 of the General
Procedures for the Eco Mark Program.
(Management issues)
Article 1.
The following issues shall be managed by Criteria Deliberation Committee.
(1) Scrutiny and verification of draft certification criteria from a technical standpoint(2) Scrutiny and verification of a partial revision of the certification criteria from a technicalstandpoint(3) Other matters(Configuration and entrustment of committee members)
Article 2.
Criteria Deliberation Committee shall comprise of 10 or less members who are entrusted by the Director
General of the Japan Environment Association from the following experts.
(1) Experts in environmental preservation, LCA, resource recycling, chemical substances,
biological diversity, etc.
(2) Intellectuals in the administrative organs concerned, the consumer affairs, etc.
(Term of committee members)
Article 3.
The term of the committee members shall be for one year. However, members may be reappointed.
(Committee chairperson)
Article 4.
1) The chairperson shall be appointed in Criteria Deliberation Committee.
2) The chairperson shall supervise Criteria Deliberation Committee
3) In the event that the chairperson is unavoidably absent, an acting chairperson previously designatedby the chairperson shall take the role.
(Holding of Criteria Deliberation Committee)
Article 5.
Criteria Deliberation Committee shall be convened and chaired by the chairperson of the committee.
(Quorum and numbers required for decision-making at the meeting)EM-02-01
Article 6.
1) Proceedings can be held and decisions made only when more than half of the committee members
attend the meeting. However, members who submit prior written notification of their intentions anddecisions regarding the concerned proceedings shall be defined as attendants.
2) Decisions shall be made when more than half of those attending agree. If voting is evenly split, thechairperson shall cast the deciding vote.
3) In the event that a committee member is unavoidably absent, a proxy who has previously been
designated by that member shall be able to attend and vote on his/her behalf.
(Rider)1 Established / in effect from 1st April, 2010
2 Revised: April 1st, 2013 (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
3 Revised: April 1st, 2022 (addition of version numbering, management of Attached Certificates)

EM-02-01
Regulations

III. Regulations of Product Category-based Criteria Development Committees
The establishment of product Category-based Criteria Development Committees (hereinafter referred toas “Criteria Development Committee”) shall comply with Chapters 1-3 of the General Procedures for the
Eco Mark Program.
(Management issues)
Article 1.
The following issues shall be managed by Criteria Development Committee.
(1) Preparation of draft of certification criteria(2) Technical interpretation concerning the certification criteria(Configuration and entrustment of committee members)
Article 2.
Criteria Development Committee shall comprise of 3 or more members. The Director General of theJapan Environment Association shall select and delegate the members from suppliers, consumers,
experts and intellectuals in neutral organizations, regarding with the product category for Criteria
Development Committee management.
(Term of committee members)
Article 3.
The term of the members shall be until the establishment of the certification criteria for the corresponding
Eco Mark product category.
(Committee chairperson)
Article 4.
1) The chairperson shall be appointed in Criteria Development Committee. The chairperson shall beselected from the experts or knowledgeable persons in neutral organizations in principle.
2) The chairperson shall supervise Criteria Development Committee(Holding of Criteria Development Committee)
Article 5.
1) Criteria Development Committee shall be convened and chaired by the chairperson of thecommittee.
2) The committee would be held once in one to two months, and three to five times a year in total.
3) The committee shall not be open to the public. However, the person approved by the chairperson
can attend the committee as an observer. Observers do not have the right of vote.

EM-02-01(Quorum and numbers required for decision-making at the meeting)
Article 6.
1) Proceedings can be held and decisions made only when more than half of the committee members
attend the meeting. However, members who submit prior written notification of their intentions anddecisions regarding the concerned proceedings shall be defined as attendants.
2) Decisions shall be made when more than half of those attending agree. If voting is evenly split, thechairperson shall cast the deciding vote.
3) In the event that a committee member is unavoidably absent, a proxy who has previously been
designated by that member shall be able to attend and vote on his/her behalf.
(Rider)1) Established / in effect from 1st April, 2010