COMMISSION DECISION
of 15 December 2006
establishing revised ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for the award of the Community eco-label to growing media
(notified under document number C(2006) 6962)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2007/64/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme (1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) thereof,
After consulting the European Union Eco-Labelling Board,
Whereas:
(1)
Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000, a timely review has been carried out of the ecological criteria, as well as of the related assessment and verification requirements, established by Commission Decision 2001/688/EC (2) for the award of the Community eco-label to soil improvers and growing media.
(2)
Following that review, the product group was divided into two separate product groups and accordingly Decision 2006/799/EC (3) on soil improvers was adopted. That Decision replaced Decision 2001/688/EC in so far as soil improvers were concerned.
(3)
However, it is necessary to replace Decision 2001/688/EC in so far as growing media are concerned.
(4)
In the light of the review, it is appropriate, in order to take account of scientific and market developments, to revise the criteria and requirements relating to growing media, the period of validity of which expires on 28 August 2007.
(5)
The revised ecological criteria and requirements should be valid for a period of four years.
(6)
It is appropriate to allow a transitional period of not more than eighteen months for producers whose products have been awarded the eco-label before 1 October 2006 or who have applied for such an award before that date, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the revised criteria and requirements.
(7)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee instituted by Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group ‘growing media’ shall comprise material other than soils in situ, in which plants are grown.
Article 2
In order to be awarded the Community eco-label for growing media, under Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000, a product must fall within the product group ‘growing media’ as defined in Article 1, and must comply with the ecological criteria set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 3
The environmental performance of the product group ‘growing media’ shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological criteria set out in the Annex.
Article 4
For administrative purposes, the code number assigned to the product group ‘growing media’ shall be ‘029’
Article 5
Eco-labels awarded before 1 October 2006 in respect of products falling within the product group ‘soil improvers and growing media’ may continue to be used until 30 April 2008.
Where applications have been submitted before 1 October 2006 for award of the eco-label in respect of products falling within the product group ‘soil improvers and growing media’, those products may be awarded the eco-label under the conditions applicable until 28 August 2007. In such cases, the eco-label may be used until 30 April 2008.
Article 6
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 15 December 2006.