Amended proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on a revised Community eco-label award scheme
Date: 1999-01-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: eco-label, environmental impact, environmental protection, non-governmental organisation

C  64/14

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

6.3.1999

II

(Preparatory  Acts)

COMMISSION

Amended  proposal  for  a  Council  Regulation  (EC)  on  a  revised  Community  eco(cid:220)label  award
scheme

(1999/C  64/12)

COM(1999)  21  final  -  96/312(SYN)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189a(2)  of  the  EC(cid:220)Treaty  on  19  January  1999)

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

Recital  4a  (new)

Whereas  for  the  acceptance  by  the  general  public  of  the
is  essential  that
European  eco(cid:220)label  award  system 
environmental  NGOs  and  consumer  organisations  have
an  important  role  in  the  decision(cid:220)making  process  for  the
award  of  Community  eco(cid:220)labels;

it 

Recital  9a  (new)

in  the  various  stages  of  the  award  of  an
Whereas 
eco(cid:220)label  efforts  must  be  made  to  ensure  a  high  level  of
environmental  protection;

Recital  10

Whereas  it  is  necessary  to  introduce  a  grading  in  the
eco(cid:220)label  in  order  to  stimulate  and  recognize  further
environmental  improvements,  over  and  above  the  hurdles
set  for  the  award  of  the  label;

Whereas  it  is  necessary  to  introduce  a  grading  in  the
eco(cid:220)label  in  order  to  stimulate  and  recognize  further
environmental  improvements,  over  and  above  the  hurdles
set  for  the  award  of  the  label;  whereas  it  is  necessary  to
provide  appropriate  information  on  the  label  about  the
reasons  for  the  award  in  order  to  assist  consumers  in
understanding  the  significance  of  the  award;

Article  1

Objectives  and  Principles

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  environmental  impacts  are  identified  on  the
basis  of  examination  of 
the
including  use  of  energy  and  natural
environment, 
resources,  during  the  entire  life  cycle  of  a  product.

interactions  with 

the 

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  environmental  impacts  are  identified  on  the
basis  of  examination  of 
the
including  use  of  energy  and  natural
environment, 
resources,  and  with  due  regard  for  a  high 
level  of
environmental  protection,  during  the  entire  life  cycle  of  a
product.

interactions  with 

the 

6.3.1999

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  64/15

ORIGINAL  PROPOSAL

AMENDED  PROPOSAL

Eco(cid:220)label  criteria  and  assessment  and  verification  requirements

Article  3

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Specific  eco(cid:220)label  criteria 
shall  be  established
according  to  product  groups.  These  criteria  will  set  out
the  requirements  for  each  of  the  key  environmental
aspects  mentioned  in  Article  2,  which  a  product  must
fulfil  in  order  to  be  considered  for  the  award  of  an
eco(cid:220)label.

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Specific  eco(cid:220)label  criteria 
shall  be  established
according  to  product  groups.  These  criteria  will  set  out
the  requirements  for  each  of  the  key  environmental
aspects  mentioned  in  Article  2,  which  a  product  must
fulfil  in  order  to  be  considered  for  the  award  of  an
eco(cid:220)label.  The  degree  of  technical  reliability  relating  to
the  quality  of  the  product  will  be  addressed.

Article  4

Scope

5.(cid:218)(cid:217)This  Regulation  shall  not  apply  to  food,  drink  or
pharmaceuticals.

5.(cid:218)(cid:217)This  Regulation  shall  not  apply  to  food,  drink,
pharmaceuticals  or  medical  devices.

Article  6

Awarding  the  eco(cid:220)label

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  application  may  refer  to  a  product  put  on  the
market  under  one  or  more  brand  names.  No  new
application  will  be  required  for  modifications 
in  the
characteristics  of  products  which  do  not  affect
compliance  with  the  criteria.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  application  may  refer  to  a  product  put  on  the
market  under  one  or  more  brand  names.  No  new
application  will  be  required  for  modifications 
in  the
characteristics  of  products  which  do  not  affect
compliance  with  the  criteria.  The  competent  bodies  must
however  be  informed  about  these  modifications.