COMMISSION DECISION of 18 December 1998 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to paints and varnishes (notified under document number C(1998) 4257) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/10/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,
Whereas, by Decision 96/13/EEC (2), the Commission established ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to paints and varnishes, which, according to Article 3 thereof, expire 14 December 1998;
Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new decision establishing criteria for this product group, which will be valid for a further period of three years after the expiry of the period of validity of the previous criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate to revise the criteria that were established by Decision 96/13/EEC in order to reflect the developments in the market;
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 group;
Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that the environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for product groups;
Whereas Article 4(2)(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that an eco-label may not be awarded to products which are substances or preparations classified as dangerous in accordance with Council Directive 67/548/EEC (3), as last amended by Commission Directive 97/69/EC (4) and Council Directive 88/379/EEC (5), as last amended by Commission Directive 93/18/EEC (6), but that it may be awarded to products containing such substances or preparations in so far as they meet the objectives of the Community eco-label award scheme;
Whereas paints and varnishes contain substances or preparations classified as dangerous under the Directives mentioned above;
Whereas the ecological criteria established by this Decision include restrictions limiting to a minimum the content of substances and preparations classified as dangerous in paints and varnishes which may be awarded on eco-label;
Whereas paints and varnishes fulfilling these criteria have therefore reduced environmental impact and meet the objectives of the Community eco-label award scheme;
Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92, the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within a consultation forum;
Whereas the measures set out in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the committee set up under Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group 'indoor paints and varnishes` shall mean:
'Indoor paints and varnishes for do-it-yourself and professional users`.
Article 2
The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product group as defined in Article 1 shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological and fitness-for-use criteria set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The product group definition and the criteria for the product group as defined in Article 1 shall be valid for a period of three years from the first day of the month following the adoption.
Article 4
For administrative purposes, the code number assigned to the product group as defined in Article 1 shall be '007`.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 18 December 1998.