WRITTEN QUESTION No. 878/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Trade and the environment
Date: 1997-03-12
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, consumer information, eco-label, environmental protection, impact study, labelling













EUR-Lex - 91997E0878 - EN






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91997E0878

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 878/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Trade and the environment  


Official Journal C 367 , 04/12/1997 P. 0051 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (12 March 1997)Subject: Trade and the environmentIn connection with 'International trade and the environment' (CES 1264/96), the eco-label (ecological quality mark) scheme based on the life-cycle of products raises a specific problem. Opinions differ as to whether the eco-label schemes really come within the scope of the provisions of the agreement on technical barriers to trade, in that these labelling programmes are voluntary. Another problem is that opinions differ in the various Member States as to how to determine the environmental requirements and in particular those of the eco-label systems. In view of the ambiguities referred to above and the possible adverse effects they may have on trade, could the Commission define a series of requirements which must be fulfilled for the awarding of ecological trademarks? It would also be advisable to draw up an international agreement on the conditions required as regards transparency.Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1997)Eco-labelling is a market-based instrument to promote environmental objectives by means of empowering consumers to make environmental choices when purchasing and providing incentives for industry to produce environmentally friendly goods and services.The Community eco-label programme has a distinctive voluntary nature. Accordingly, foreign and Community producers may sell products within the Community markets without the eco-label. The findings of a recent Organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) study confirm the limited trade impacts of voluntary eco-labelling schemes.According to the framework established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of 23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme ((OJ L 99, 11.4.1992. )), the Commission has already defined a series of requirements which must be fulfilled for the development of the ecological criteria and the awarding of the label. According to Articles 1 and 5 (4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92, the eco-label scheme is based on a 'cradle-to grave approach.' The methodology used to study the environmental impact of product groups is life cycle assessment (LCA).In addition, the Commission is of the view that voluntary eco-labelling schemes based on a LCA approach, such as the Community scheme, are not covered in their entirety by the technical barniers to trade (TBT) Agreement.Full transparency of the system is ensured by the participation of the different interest groups (industry, commerce, trade unions, consumers, environmentalists) in the eco-label Consultation Forum (Article 6 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92). The Community has made specific proposals in the World trade organization (WTO) committee on trade and environment, including the elaboration of an ad hoc code of conduct, to ensure transparency in the elaboration and operation of eco-labelling schemes, while at the same time protecting the integrity of the LCA approach.