1998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSION DECISION
of 2 October 1998
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to bed mattresses
(notified under document number C(1998) 2919)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(98/634/EC)
(OJ L 302, 12.11.1998, p. 31)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision 2001/540/EC of9 July 2001 L 194 50 18.7.2001
▼B
COMMISSION DECISION
of 2 October 1998
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community
eco-label to bed mattresses
(notified under document number C(1998) 2919)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(98/634/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 of23 March
1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme (1), and in particular the
second subparagraph ofArticle 5(1) thereof ,
Whereas the f irst subparagraph ofArticle 5(1) ofRegulation (EEC) No
880/92 provides that the conditions for the award of the Community eco-label shall be defined by product groups;
Whereas Article 10(2) ofRegulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that the
environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by referenceto the specific criteria for product groups;
Whereas in accordance with Article 6 ofRegulation (EEC) No 880/92
the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within aconsultation forum;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance
with the opinion ofthe committee set up pursuant to Article 7 of
Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group ‘bed mattresses’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
product group’) shall mean:
Products providing a surface to sleep or rest upon, consisting of a
strong cloth cover filled with materials, and that can be placed on an
existing supporting bed structure.
This includes framed sprung mattresses, which are defined as an
upholstered bed case consisting ofsprings, topped with f illings, on arigid frame to be used in a bed frame or free standing, combinedwith a mattress pad which is not intended to be used separately.
Inflatable mattresses and water mattresses are excluded.
Article 2
The enviromental 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 shall
be valid from 2 October 1998 until 1 April 2003.1998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 99, 11. 4. 1992, p. 1.▼M1
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Article 4
For administrative purposes the code number assigned to the product
group shall be ‘014’.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.1998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 3
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ANNEX
In order to qualify for an eco-label, the product in the product group as defined in
Article 1 must comply with the criteria ofthis Annex, with tests carried out on
application as indicated in the criteria. Where no tests are mentioned, competent
bodies should rely as appropriate on declarations and documentation provided by
the applicant and/or independent verifications.
The competent bodies are recommened to take into account the implementation
ofrecognised environmental management schemes, such as EMAS or ISO 14001,
when assessing applications and monitoring compliance with the criteria in this
Annex.
Functional unit
The functional unit, to which inputs and outputs should be related, is:
1m2of mattress
A.ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA
A1. MATERIALS
Specific criteria are set in this section A1 for latex foam, polyurethane foam, wire
and springs, coconut fibres and wood. Other materials for which no material-
specific criteria are set are allowed. All of the materials used must comply with
the criteria in section A2 on the use ofdyes, pigments and f lame retardants. The
applicant shall supply detailed information as to the material composition of the
mattresses.
The criteria specific for latex foam, polyurethane foam, or coconut fibres set in
this section A1 need only be met ifthat material contributes to more than 5 % of
the total weight ofthe mattress.
Latex foam
1. The concentrations in latex foam of the following substances must be less
than the limit values indicated below:
1(a) pentachlorophenol (its salts and esters): 0,1 ppm
test method: Milling of5 g sample, extraction ofPCP or sodium salt.
Analysis by means ofgas chromatography (GC), detection
with mass spectrometer or ECD.
1(b) extractable heavy metals:
arsenic 0,5 ppm
lead 0,5 ppm
cadmium 0,1 ppmchromium (total) 1,0 ppm
cobalt 0,5 ppm
copper 2,0 ppmnickel 1,0 ppm
mercury 0,02 ppm
test method: Milled sample extracted according to DIN 38414-S4, L/
S=10.
Filtration with 0,45 µm membrane filter.
Analysis by means ofatomic emission spectroscopy with
inductive coupled plasma (ICP-AES) or with hydrid or cold
vapour technique.
1(c) extractable formaldehyde: 50 ppm
test method: According to Japan Law 112 (1973) or PRENISO 14184-1.
Sample of1 g with 100 g water heated to 40 ºC f or one
hour.
Formaldehyde in extract analysed with acetylacetone,
photometric.1998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 4
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1(d) butadiene: 1 ppm
test method: Milling and weighing ofsample.
Sampling by headspace sampler.
Analysis by gas chromatography, detection by flame-
ionisation detector.
Polyurethane (PUR) foam
2. The concentrations in PUR foam of the following substances must be less
than the limit values indicated below:
2(a) extractable heavy metals:
arsenic 0,5 ppm
lead 0,5 ppm
cadmium 0,1 ppmchromium (total) 1,0 ppm
cobalt 0,5 ppm
copper 2,0 ppmnickel 1,0 ppm
mercury 0,02 ppm
test method: Milled sample extracted according to DIN 38414-S4, L/
S=10.
Filtration with 0,45 µm membrane filter.
Analysis by means ofatomic emission spectroscopy with
inductive coupled plasma (ICP-AES) or with hydrid or cold
vapour technique.
2(b) The concentration oftin (in organic f orm) must not exceed 900 ppm.
test method: Sample treatment according to NEN 6465 or ISO-DIS (draft
international standard) 11466 or equivalent (grinding of
sample, followed by treatment for two hours with boiling
HCl/HNO
3(aqua regia)).
Analysis according to NEN 6465 or ISO-DIS (draft
internationl standard) 11466 or equivalent, by atomic
absorption spectroscopy (AAS), cold vapour (CVAAS) for
Hg; atomic emission spectroscopy with inductive coupled
plasma (ICP-AES) for other heavy metals.
3. CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs or methylene chloride shall not be used as blowing
agents or as auxiliary blowing agents. The use ofmethylene chloride as an
auxiliary blowing agent is nevertheless allowed in conjunction with the
application ofpowdered f lame retardants.
Wire and springs
4. Ifdegreasing and/or cleaning ofwire and/or springs is carried out with
organic solvents, use must be made ofa closed cleaning/degreasing system.
5. The surface of springs must not be covered with a galvanic metallic layer.
Coconut fibres
6. Ifthe coconut f ibre material is rubberised, the latex used must comply with
the criteria applicable to latex foam.
Wooden material
7. Any particle board used must be ofclass 1 quality with respect to
formaldehyde as defined in EN 312-1.
Any fibreboard used must be of class A quality with respect to
formaldehyde as defined in EN 622-1.1998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 5
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A2. CHEMICALS AND PREPARATIONS
Glues
8. Any glues used must contain less than 10 % by weight ofvolatile organic
compounds (VOCs). This criterion does not apply to glues used for
occasional repairs.
VOCs are any organic compound having at 293,15 K a vapour pressure of
0,01 kPa or more, or having a corresponding volatility under the particular
conditions ofuse.
9. Any glues used must be free of benzene and chlorobenzenes.
Dyes and pigments
10. No azo dyes shall be used that may cleave to any ofthe f ollowing aromatic
amines:
4-aminodiphenyl (92-67-1)
benzidine (92-87-5)4-chloro-o-toluidine (95-69-2)
2-naphthylamine (91-59-8)
o-amino-azotoluene (97-56-3)
2-amino-4-nitrotoluene (99-55-8)
p-chloroaniline (106-47-8)
2,4-diaminoanisol (615-05-4)4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (101-77-9)
3,3'-dichlorobenzidine (91-94-1)
3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine (119-90-4)3,3'-dimethylbenzidine (119-93-7)
3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (838-88-0)
p-cresidine (120-71-8)
4,4'-methylene-bis-(2-chloraniline) (101-14-4)
4,4'-oxydianiline (101-80-4)
4,4'-thiodianiline (139-65-1)o-toluidine (95-53-4)
2,4-diaminotoluene (95-80-7)
2,4,5-trimethylaniline (137-17-7)4-aminoazobenzene (60-09-3)
o-anisidine (90-04-0)
11. None of the following dyes that are carcinogenic (category 2 as defined in
Council Directive 67/548/EEC (
1), as last amended by Commission
Directive 97/69/EEC (2)) shall be used:
C.I. Solvent Yellow 1
C.I. Solvent Yellow 2
C.I. Solvent Yellow 3
C.I. Basic Red 9
C.I. Disperse Blue 1
12. The following potentially sensitising dyes shall only be used if the fastness
to perspiration (acid and alkaline) is at least 4:
C.I. Disperse Blue 3
C.I. Disperse Blue 351998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 6
(1) OJ 196, 16. 8. 1967, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 343, 13. 12. 1997, p. 19.
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C.I. Disperse Blue 106
C.I. Disperse Blue 124
C.I. Disperse Yellow 3C.I. Disperse Orange 3C.I. Disperse Orange 37/76C.I. Disperse Red 1
test method: ISO 105-E04: Colour fastness to perspiration (acid and
alkaline), minimum level 4. Testing only required ifthese
dyes are used.
13. No dyes or pigments shall be used that are based on chromium, copper,
nickel or lead. Chrome mordant dyeing is not allowed.
14. The levels ofionic impurities in the dyes used must not exceed the
following:
Arsenic 50 ppm
Cadmium 20 ppmChromium 100 ppm
Copper 250 ppm
Mercury 4 ppmNickel 200 ppm
Lead 100 ppm
Antimony 50 ppmTin 250 ppm
Zinc 1 500 ppm
15. The levels ofionic impurities in the pigments used must not exceed the
following:
Arsenic 250 ppm
Cadmium 50 ppm
Chromium 100 ppmMercury 25 ppm
Lead 100 ppm
Antimony 250 ppmZinc 1 000 ppm
NB:All ofthe materials used in the mattress must comply with the criteria on
dyes and pigments (criteria 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15). Recycled materialsused in the mattress may nevertheless contain the dyes and pigments
excluded here, but only ifadded in the previous lif e-cycle ofthe material.
Flame retardants
16. No use is allowed off lame retardant substances or preparations containing
substances that are classified or can be classified as dangerous for the
environment according to Council Directive 67/548/EEC (
1), as last
amended by Commission Directive 97/69/EEC (2).
NB:All ofthe materials used in the mattress must comply with this criterion.
Recycled materials used in the mattress may nevertheless contain the flame
retardants excluded here, but only ifadded in their previous lif e-cycle.1998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 7
(1) OJ 196, 16. 8. 1967, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 343, 13. 12. 1997, p. 19.
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B.FITNESS FOR USE CRITERIA
Durability
17. The loss ofheight must be less than 20 mm.
The loss off irmness (Hs) must be less than 20 %.
test method: prEN 1957 (final draft January 1997). The losses of height
and firmness refer to the difference between the measure-ments made initially (at 100 cycles) and after the completion
(30 000 cycles) ofthe durability test.1998D0634 — EN — 18.07.2001 — 001.001 — 8