1999D0568 — EN — 01.09.2002 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSIONDECISION
of27July1999
establishingtheecological critera fortheawardoftheCommunityeco-label tolightbulbs
(notified under document number C(1999) 2439)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(1999/568/EC)
(OJ L 216, 14.8.1999, p. 18)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision 2002/747/EC of 9 September 2002 L 242 44 10.9.2002
Corrected by:
►C1Corrigendum, OJ L 16, 21.1.2000, p. 79 (1999/568/EC)
▼B
COMMISSIONDECISION
of27July1999
establishingthe ecological critera for the awardofthe Community
eco-label tolightbulbs
(notified under document number C(1999) 2439)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
(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
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 providesthat the conditionsfor the award ofthe Community eco-label shall be defined by product groups;
(2)WhereasArticle 10(2) of Regulation (ECC) No 880/92 s tatesthat the environmental performance of a product shall be
assessed by reference to the specific critera for product groups;
(3)Whereasby Decis ion 95/533/EC(2), the Commission established
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, by Decision 96/337/EC(3), the Commission established
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)Whereas it is deemed appropriate to establish one product groupreplacing the separate product groups single-ended light bulbsand double-ended light bulbs;
(6)Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new decision establishingecological critera for thisproduct group, in order to allow for
the participation in the Community eco-label award scheme of
manufacturersand importersof light bulbs ;
(7)Whereas it is appropriate to revise the criteria which were estab-lished by Decisions 95/533/EC and 96/337/EC in order for theenergy classification to be expressed in a manner consistentwith Commission Directive 98/11/EC(
4) implementing Council
Directive 92/75/EEC(5) with regard to energy labelling of house-
hold lampsand in order to adapt the energy, average life andmercury content requirementsto technological innovation andmarket developments;
(8)Whereasin accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No
880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal interest
groupswithin a cons ultation forum;
(9)Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accor-dance with the opinion of the Committee set up pursuant toArticle 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,1999D0568 — EN — 01.09.2002 — 001.001 — 2
(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.
▼B
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group ‘light bulbs’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the product
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 public elec-tricity supply, and must be available for sale to the public,
— ‘double-ended light bulbs’, meaning all light bulbs which provide
general purpose lighting and have fitting at both ends. Thisincludes, principally, all linear fluorescent tubes. The tubes mustbe connectable to the public electricity supply.
Article 2
The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product
group shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological critera
set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The product group definition and the specific ecological criteria for the
product group shall be valid until 31 August 2003.
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.1999D0568 — EN — 01.09.2002 — 001.001 — 3
▼M1
▼B
▼B
ANNEX
A.FRAMEWORK
In order to be awarded an eco-label the light bulbss hall comply with the criteria
of thisAnnex, with tes tscarried out on application asindicated in the criteria.
Where appropriate, other test methods may be used if the competent body asses-
sing the application accepts their equivalence.
The criteria are aimed at promoting:
— reduction of environmental damage or risks related to the use of energy
(global warming, acidification, depletion of non-renewable resources) by
reducing energy consumption
— reduction of environmental damage or risks related to the use of mercury, by
reducing the mercury content of a light bulb and by extending itsaverage
life
— minimising the environmental damage related to waste by promoting the use
of recycled material in packaging and by extending itsaverage life.
The competent bodiesare recommended to take into account the implementation
of recognised environmental management schemes, such as EMAS or ISO
14001, when assessing applications and monitoring compliance with the criteria
in this Annex (note: it is not required to implement such management schemes).
B.KEYCRITERIA
1.Energyefficiency
Single-ended light bulbs must qualify either as class A or a class B under the
energy label, as defined in Commission Directive 98/11/EC of 27 January
1998, Annex IV. Compact fluorescent lamps with a magnetic ballast are
however not eligible for an eco-label.
Double-ended light bulbs must qualify as class A under the energy label, as
defined in Commission Directive 98/11/EC of 27 January 1998, Annex IV.
2.Average lifeandlumenmaintenance
Both s ingle-ended light bulbsand double-ended light bulbsmus t achieve an
average life of more than 10 000 hours.
Lumen maintenance shall be in accordance with the following table:
Average life Lumen maintenance
Single-ended >10 000 hours ≥70 % at 10 000 hours
Double-ended ►C1> 10 000 hours
but < 20 000 hours ◄≥90 % at 10 000 hours
Double-ended ≥20 000 hours ≥90 % at 20 000 hours
3.Mercury
Single-ended light bulbs shall have an average(1) mercury content lower than
6 mg.
Double-ended light bulbs with an average life of less than 20 000 hours, but
greater than 10 000 hourss hall have an average mercury content lower than
7,5 mg.
Double-ended light bulbs with an average life that isequal to or greater than
20 000 hourss hall have an average mercury content lower than 10 mg.
Mercury content shall be tested by the method described in the Appendix to
thisDecis ion.1999D0568 — EN — 01.09.2002 — 001.001 — 4
(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 measured content
from the sample.
▼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, EN
60081 and CIE 84 asappropriate for the type of lamp. If the appropriate
average life test has not been completed, operational average life as stated
on the packaging is acceptable pending the result of the test. The result of
the test must be communicated to the competent body as soon as it is avail-
able, and in any case no later than 18 months after the date of application for
the label.
C.FITNESSFORUSECRITERIA
5.Productinformation
The following information shall be provided with the product:
For single-ended light bulbs:
(i) Dimmer switches
Light bulbs which do not operate on dimmer switches shall be labelled.
(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, including
regulatory requirements.
For double-ended light bulbs:
(i) The environmental performance of the light bulb isimproved when it is
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, including
regulatory requirements.1999D0568 — EN — 01.09.2002 — 001.001 — 5
▼B
Appendix
METHODTOTESTMERCURYCONTENT
The arc tube is first separated from its plastic surrounds and associated electro-
nics. The associated leadwires are cut as close to the glass seal as possible. The
arc tube is taken to a fume cupboard and is cut into segments. The segments are
placed in a suitably sized robust screw-capped plastic bottle to which is added a
1 inch (approximately 2.5 cm) diameter porcelain ball and 25 ml of high purity
concentrated nitric acid (70 %). The bottle is sealed and shaken for a fewminutes to reduce the arc tube to fine particle size, the stopper is periodically
loosened to eliminate any possibility of pressure build-up. The contents of the
bottle are allowed to react for 30 minutesduring which time the contentsare
periodically agitated.
The contents of the bottle are then filtered through an acid resistant filter paper
and collected in a 100 ml graduated volumetric flask. Potassium dichromate is
then added to the flask so that the final concentration is 1 000 ppm with respect
to chromium. The flask is then made up to volume with pure water.
Matched standards are made up on a concentration range up to 200 ppm
mercury. The solutions are analysed using flame atomic absorption at a wave-
length of 253,7 nm with background correction on. From the results obtained
and knowledge of the solution volume, the original mercury content of the light
bulb can be computed.
The competent body may agree adaptationsto the detailsof the tes t method if
they are necessary for technical reasons, and shall be applied in a consistent
manner.1999D0568 — EN — 01.09.2002 — 001.001 — 6