COMMISSION DECISION
of 27 July 1999
establishing the ecological critera for the award of the Community eco-label to light bulbs
(notified under document number C(1999) 2439)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/568/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of 23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) thereof,
(1) Whereas the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 provides that the conditions for the award of the Community eco-label shall be defined by product groups;
(2) Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (ECC) No 880/92 states that the environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific critera for product groups;
(3) Whereas by Decision 95/533/EC(2), the Commission established ecological critera for the award of the Community eco-label to single-ended light bulbs, which, according to Article 3 thereof, expired on 30 November 1998;
(4) Whereas, by Decision 96/337/EC(3), the Commission established ecological critera for the award of the Community eco-label to double-ended light bulbs, which, according to Article 3 thereof, expired on 7 May 1999;
(5) Whereas it is deemed appropriate to establish one product group replacing the separate product groups single-ended light bulbs and double-ended light bulbs;
(6) Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new decision establishing ecological critera for this product group, in order to allow for the participation in the Community eco-label award scheme of manufacturers and importers of light bulbs;
(7) Whereas it is appropriate to revise the criteria which were established by Decisions 95/533/EC and 96/337/EC in order for the energy classification to be expressed in a manner consistent with Commission Directive 98/11/EC(4) implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC(5) with regard to energy labelling of household lamps and in order to adapt the energy, average life and mercury content requirements to technological innovation and market developments;
(8) Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within a consultation forum;
(9) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group "light bulbs" (hereinafter referred to as "the product group") shall comprise:
- "single-ended light bulbs", meaning all light bulbs which provide general purpose lighting and have single-ended, bayonet, screw or pin fittings. The light bulbs must be connectable to the public electricity supply, and must be available for sale to the public,
- "double-ended light bulbs", meaning all light bulbs which provide general purpose lighting and have fitting at both ends. This includes, principally, all linear fluorescent tubes. The tubes must be connectable to the public electricity supply.
Article 2
The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product group shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological critera set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The product group definition and the critera for the product group shall be valid from 1 July 1999 until 1 July 2002. If, however, on 1 July 2002 a new Decision establishing the ecological critera for this product group has not yet been adopted, this period of validity shall instead end either on 1 July 2003 or on the date of adoption of the new Decision, whichever is sooner.
Article 4
The code number assigned for administrative purposes to the products group shall be "008".
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 27 July 1999.