COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2020/1805

of 27 November 2020

amending Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 extending the period of validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel to textile products and footwear and of the related assessment and verification requirements

(notified under document C(2020) 8152)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,

After consulting the European Union Ecolabelling Board,

Whereas:

(1) The validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for textile products and of the related assessment and verification requirements set out in Commission Decision 2014/350/EU (2) expires on 5 December 2020.

(2) The validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for footwear and of the related assessment and verification requirements set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2016/1349 (3) expires on 5 August 2022.

(3) In line with the conclusions of the EU Ecolabel Fitness check of 30 June 2017 (4), the Commission, together with the EU Ecolabelling Board, assessed the relevance of each product group as well as the relevance and appropriateness of its current ecological criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements before proposing its prolongation. For Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 this assessment confirmed the relevance and appropriateness of the product groups, as well as of their current ecological criteria and of their related assessment and verification requirements.

(4) Moreover, in line with the conclusions of the EU Ecolabel Fitness check of 30 June 2017, the Commission, together with the EU Ecolabelling Board, is suggesting solutions to improve synergies across product groups and to increase the uptake of EU Ecolabel, including bundling of closely related product groups where appropriate and ensuring that, during the revision process, appropriate attention is paid to the coherence between relevant EU policies, legislation and scientific evidence.

(5) To further facilitate the transition to a more circular economy, the EU Ecolabel criteria for textile products and footwear are due to be revised in line with the New Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe (5). It is therefore appropriate to prolong the validity of the EU Ecolabel criteria set out in Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 until the same end date in order for the Commission to be able to revise both of those product groups together, and bundling them if this is deemed possible.

(6) In order to allow the required time for a complete finalisation of the revision process and to provide a reliable perspective allowing market continuity for current and future licence holders that can maintain the benefits of the EU Ecolabel on their awarded products in the meanwhile, the period of validity of the current criteria for textile products and footwear, and of the related assessment and verification requirements, should be prolonged until 31 December 2025.

(7) Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Article 6 of Decision 2014/350/EU is replaced by the following: ‘Article 6 The ecological criteria for the product group “textile products” and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2025.’.

Article 2 Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2016/1349 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 4 The ecological criteria for the product group “footwear” and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2025.’.

Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 27 November 2020. For the Commission Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.2010, p. 1.

(2) Commission Decision 2014/350/EU of 5 June 2014 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for textile products (OJ L 174, 13.6.2014, p. 45).

(3) Commission Decision (EU) 2016/1349 of 5 August 2016 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for footwear (OJ L 214, 9.8.2016, p. 16).

(4) Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the review of implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) and Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (COM(2017) 355 final).

(5) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A new Circular Economy Action Plan – For a cleaner and more competitive Europe (COM(2020) 98 final).