1999D0568 — EN — 28.07.1999 — 000.001 — 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 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)
(OJ L 216, 14.8.1999, p. 18)
Corrected by:
►C1Corrigendum, OJ L 16, 21.1.2000, p. 79 (1999/568)
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▼B
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
1992onaCommunityeco-labelawardscheme(1),andinparticularthe
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 ofthe Community eco-label shall be defined by product groups;
(2)WhereasArticle10(2)ofRegulation(ECC)No880/92statesthattheenvironmentalperformanceofaproductshallbeassessedbyreference to the specific critera for product groups;
(3)WhereasbyDecision95/533/EC(2),theCommissionestablished
ecological critera for the award of the Community eco-label tosingle-ended light bulbs, which, according to Article 3 thereof,expired on 30 November 1998;
(4)Whereas,byDecision96/337/EC(3),theCommissionestablished
ecological critera for the award of the Community eco-label todouble-ended light bulbs, which, according to Article 3 thereof,expired on 7 May 1999;
(5)Whereasitisdeemedappropriatetoestablishoneproductgroupreplacing the separate product groups single-ended light bulbsand double-ended light bulbs;
(6)Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new decision establishingecologicalcriteraforthisproductgroup,inordertoallowfortheparticipationintheCommunityeco-labelawardschemeofmanu-facturers and importers of light bulbs;
(7)Whereasitisappropriatetorevisethecriteriawhichwereestab-lished by Decisions 95/533/EC and 96/337/EC in order for theenergyclassificationtobeexpressedinamannerconsistentwithCommission Directive 98/11/EC(
4) implementing Council
Directive92/75/EEC(5)withregardtoenergylabellingofhouse-
hold lamps and in order to adapt the energy, average life andmercury content requirements to technological innovation andmarket developments;
(8)Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal interestgroups within a consultation forum;
(9)Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are inaccordancewiththeopinionoftheCommitteesetuppursuanttoArticle 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,
(1) OJ L 99, 11.4.1992, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 302, 15.12.1995, p. 42.
(3) OJ L 128, 29.5.1996, p. 24.
(4) OJ L 71, 10.3.1998, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 297, 13.10.1992, p. 16.
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▼B
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Theproductgroup‘lightbulbs'(hereinafterreferredtoas‘theproduct
group')shall comprise:
— ‘single-ended light bulbs',meaning all light bulbs which provide
general purpose lighting and have single-ended, bayonet, screw orpin fittings. The light bulbs must be connectable to the publicelectricity supply, and must be available for sale to the public,
— ‘double-ended light bulbs',meaning all light bulbs which provide
generalpurposelightingandhavefittingatbothends.Thisincludes,principally,alllinearfluorescenttubes.Thetubesmustbeconnect-able to the public electricity supply.
Article 2
The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product
groupshallbeassessedbyreferencetothespecificecologicalcriterasetout in the Annex.
Article 3
Theproductgroupdefinitionandthecriterafortheproductgroupshall
bevalidfrom1July1999until1July2002.If,however,on1July2002anewDecisionestablishingtheecologicalcriteraforthisproductgrouphasnotyetbeenadopted,thisperiodofvalidityshallinsteadendeitheron 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.
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▼B
ANNEX
A.FRAMEWORK
Inordertobeawardedaneco-labelthelightbulbsshallcomplywiththecriteria
of this Annex, with tests carried out on application as indicated in the criteria.Where appropriate, other test methods may be used if the competent bodyassessing the application accepts their equivalence.
The criteria are aimed at promoting:
— reductionofenvironmentaldamageorrisksrelatedtotheuseofenergy
(globalwarming,acidification,depletionofnon-renewableresources)byreducing energy consumption
— reductionofenvironmentaldamageorrisksrelatedtotheuseofmercury,
by reducing the mercury content of a light bulb and by extending itsaverage life
— minimisingtheenvironmentaldamagerelatedtowastebypromotingthe
useofrecycledmaterialinpackagingandbyextendingitsaveragelife.
Thecompetentbodiesarerecommendedtotakeintoaccounttheimplementa-
tion of recognised environmental management schemes, such as EMAS orISO14001,whenassessingapplicationsandmonitoringcompliancewiththecriteriainthisAnnex(note:itisnotrequiredtoimplementsuchmanagementschemes).
B.KEY CRITERIA
1.Energy efficiency
Single-endedlightbulbs mustqualifyeitherasclassAoraclassBunderthe
energy label, as defined in Commission Directive 98/11/EC of 27 January1998, Annex IV. Compact fluorescent lamps with a magnetic ballast arehowever not eligible for an eco-label.
Double-ended light bulbs mustqualifyasclassAundertheenergylabel,as
defined in Commission Directive 98/11/EC of 27 January 1998, Annex IV.
2.Average life and lumen maintenance
Bothsingle-endedlightbulbsanddouble-endedlightbulbsmustachievean
average life of more than 10000 hours.
Lumen maintenance shall be in accordance with the following table:
Averagelife Lumenmaintenance
Single-ended >10000hours ≥70%at10000hours
Double-ended ►C1>10000hours
but<20000hours ◄≥90%at10000hours
Double-ended ≥20000hours ≥90%at20000hours
3.Mercury
Single-endedlightbulbs shallhaveanaverage(1)mercurycontentlowerthan
6mg.
Double-endedlightbulbs withanaveragelifeoflessthan20000hours,but
greaterthan10000hoursshallhaveanaveragemercurycontentlowerthan7,5mg.
Double-endedlightbulbs withanaveragelifethatisequaltoorgreaterthan
20000 hours shall have an average mercury content lower than 10mg.
MercurycontentshallbetestedbythemethoddescribedintheAppendixto
this Decision.
(1) The average figure relates to the average tested mercury content in a test performed
on 10 light bulbs, removing the light bulbs with the highest and lowest measuredcontent fromthe sam ple.
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▼B
4.Packaging
Laminates and composite plastics must not be used.For single-ended light bulbs, all cardboard packaging must contain a
minimum of 65% recycled material (by weight).
For double-ended light bulbs, all cardboard packaging must contain a
minimum of 80% recycled material (by weight).
For single-ended and double-ended light bulbs, EN standard 50285 shall
apply. Lamps shall be tested using EN 60064, EN 60901, EN 60969, EN60081 and CIE 84 as appropriate for the type of lamp. If the appropriateaveragelifetesthasnotbeencompleted,operationalaveragelifeasstatedonthe packaging is acceptable pending the result of the test. The result of thetestmustbecommunicatedtothecompetentbodyassoonasitisavailable,andinanycasenolaterthan18monthsafterthedateofapplicationforthelabel.
C.FITNESS FOR USE CRITERIA
5.Product information
The following information shall be provided with the product:
For single-ended light bulbs:
(i) Dimmer switches
Lightbulbswhichdonotoperateondimmerswitchesshallbelabelled.
(ii) Size and shape
The relative size and shape of a compact fluorescent light bulb
compared to a conventional incandescent lamp shall be indicated.
(iii) Disposal
Information (pictogram or otherwise) to consumers on the packaging
shall draw attention to the appropriate disposal conditions, includingregulatory requirements.
For double-ended light bulbs:
(i) Theenvironmentalperformanceofthelightbulbisimprovedwhenitis
used with high frequency electronic gear as per EN 60929.
(ii) Information (pictogram or otherwise) to consumers on the packaging
shall draw attention to the appropriate disposal conditions, includingregulatory requirements.
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▼B
Appendix
METHOD TO TEST MERCURY CONTENT
Thearctubeisfirstseparatedfromitsplasticsurroundsandassociatedelectro-
nics.Theassociatedleadwiresarecutasclosetotheglasssealaspossible.Thearctubeistakentoafumecupboardandiscutintosegments.Thesegmentsareplacedinasuitablysizedrobustscrew-cappedplasticbottletowhichisaddeda1inch(approximately2.5cm)diameterporcelainballand25mlofhighpurityconcentrated nitric acid (70%). The bottle is sealed and shaken for a fewminutes to reduce the arc tube to fine particle size, the stopper is periodicallyloosened to eliminate any possibility of pressure build-up. The contents of thebottle are allowed to react for 30 minutes during which time the contents areperiodically agitated.
Thecontentsofthebottlearethenfilteredthroughanacidresistantfilterpaper
and collected in a 100ml graduated volumetric flask. Potassium dichromate isthenaddedtotheflasksothatthefinalconcentrationis1000ppmwithrespectto chromium. The flask is then made up to volume with pure water.
Matched standards are made up on a concentration range up to 200ppm
mercury. The solutions are analysed using flame atomic absorption at a wave-lengthof253,7nmwithbackgroundcorrectionon.Fromtheresultsobtainedandknowledgeofthesolutionvolume,theoriginalmercurycontentofthelightbulbcan be computed.
The competent body may agree adaptations to the details of the test method if
they are necessary for technical reasons, and shall be applied in a consistentmanner.