COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2021/1845

of 20 October 2021

amending Decision (EU) 2017/175 as regards the period of validity of the EU Ecolabel criteria for tourist accommodation and of the related assessment and verification requirements

(notified under document C(2021) 7427)

(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) Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that the EU Ecolabel may be awarded to products with a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle. Specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established for each product group.

(2) By Decision (EU) 2017/175 (2), the Commission established EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘tourist accommodation’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements is to expire on 26 January 2022.

(3) In line with the conclusions of the EU Ecolabel Fitness check of 30 June 2017 (3), the Commission, together with the EU Ecolabelling Board, assessed and confirmed the relevance of the product group ‘tourist accommodation’, as well as the relevance and appropriateness of the current EU Ecolabel criteria for that product group and of the related assessment and verification requirements.

(4) In line with the conclusions of the EU Ecolabel Fitness check of 30 June 2017, the Commission, together with the EU Ecolabelling Board, is giving priority to the implementation of several actions to increase the uptake of the EU Ecolabel for this product group, promoting it as a valuable tool for a sustainable recovery.

(5) It is therefore appropriate to prolong the validity of the EU Ecolabel criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements set out in Decision (EU) 2017/175 in order for the Commission to be able to revise this product group once the sector has recovered.

(6) The duration of the extension should be sufficiently long as to allow 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.

(7) Decision (EU) 2017/175 should therefore be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Article 6 of Decision (EU) 2017/175 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 6 The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group “tourist accommodation” and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 30 June 2025.’.

Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 October 2021. For the Commission Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS Member of the Commission

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

(2) Commission Decision (EU) 2017/175 of 25 January 2017 on establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for tourist accommodation (OJ L 28, 2.2.2017, p. 9).

(3) 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 the Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (COM(2017) 355 final).