COMMISSION DECISION
of 28 May 1999
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to detergents for dishwashers
(notified under document number C(1999) 1377)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/427/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 group;
(2) Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for product groups;
(3) Whereas Article 4(2)(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that an eco-label shall not be awarded to products which are substances or preparations classified as dangerous in accordance with Council Directive 67/548/EEC(2) as last ameded by Commission Directive 98/73/EC(3) and Council Directive 88/379/EEC(4), as last amended by Commission Directive 96/65/EC(5), but 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;
(4) Whereas detergents for dishwashers contain substances or preparations classified as dangerous in accordance with the abovementioned Directives;
(5) Whereas the ecological criteria established by this Decision include, in particular, hurdles and scores limiting to a minimum the content of substances and preparations classified as dangerous in the detergents which may be awarded an eco-label;
(6) Whereas detergents complying with these criteria have therefore a reduced environmental impact and meet the objectives of the Community eco-label award scheme;
(7) Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within a consultation forum;
(8) Whereas the committee set up by Article 7(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 has not delivered an opinion on the measures laid down in a draft Commission Decision;
(9) Whereas the Commission has therefore proposed these measures to the Council on 27 January 1999 in accordance with Article 7(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92;
(10) Whereas the Council has not acted within three months from the date of referral to it;
(11) Whereas in accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 the measures should now be adopted by the Commission,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group "detergents for dishwashers" means all detergents which are intended to be used exclusively in automatic domestic dishwashers.
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 performance criteria set out in the Annex and Appendix IA, IB, II, III and IV.
Article 3
The definition of the product group and the specific ecological criteria for the product group shall be valid for a period of three years from the first day of the month following the adoption of the criteria.
Article 4
For administrative purposes the product group code number assigned to this product group shall be "15".
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 28 May 1999.