1999/698/EC: Commission Decision of 13 October 1999 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to portable computers (notified under document number C(1999) 3278) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 1999-10-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: eco-label, environmental protection, innovation, micro-computer

27. 10. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 276/7

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 13 October 1999

establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to portable computers

(notified under document number C(1999) 3278)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/698/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

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 Regula-
tion (EEC) No 880/92 provides that the conditions for
the award of the Community eco-label shall be defined
by product groups;

(2) Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92
states that the environmental performance of a product
shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for
product groups;

(3) Whereas it is appropriate to revise the criteria within a
period of two years in order to adapt the energy require-
ments to technological innovation and market develop-
ments;

Article 1

The product group ‘portable computers’ (hereinafter referred to
as ‘the product group’) shall mean:

— commercially available portable computers that are auto-
nomous in the sense that they are not dependent on a
continous connection to outside supply of
software,
computing capacity, or mains voltage for proper func-
tioning primarily intended for data-processing purposes
and fitted with both input and output devices.

Article 2

The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the
product group shall be assessed by reference to the specific
ecological criteria set out in the Annex to this Decision.

(4) Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation
(EEC) No 880/92 the Commission has consulted the
interest groups within a consultation forum;
principal

Article 3

(5) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are
in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up
pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,

(1) OJ L 99, 11.4.1992, p. 1.

The definition of the product group and the specific ecological
criteria for the product group shall be valid for a period of two
years from the first day of the month following the adoption of
the criteria. If revised ecological criteria have not been adopted
before the end of this period, their validity shall be extended
for a further year or until the date of adoption of the new
criteria, whichever is sooner.

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For administrative purposes the code number assigned to this product group shall be ‘018’.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 13 October 1999.

For the Commission

Margot WALLSTRÖM

Member of the Commission

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ANNEX

FRAMEWORK

In order to be awarded an eco-label, the portable computer shall comply with the criteria of this Annex, which are aimed
at promoting:

— the reduction of environmental damage or risks related to the use of energy (global warming, acidification, depletion of

non-renewable resources) by reducing energy consumption,

— the reduction of environmental damage related to the use of natural resources by encouraging the exchangeability of components,

and the recyclability and maintainability of the computer,

— the reduction of environmental damage or risks related to the use of hazardous substances by reducing the use of such substances.

Additionally, the criteria encourage the implementation of best practice and enhance the environmental awareness of
consumers.

Furthermore, the marking of plastic components encourages their recycling.

The Competent Bodies are recommended to take into account the implementation of recognised environmental manage-
ment 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).

KEY CRITERIA

1. Energy savings

The portable computer shall have a maximum sleep-mode power consumption of 5 W.

The portable computer shall have a maximum off-mode power consumption of 3 W.

The default mode-change time from operation to sleep shall be ≤ 15 minutes of inactivity. The manufacturer must enable
this feature, but the user may disable it.

2. Lifetime extension

The manufacturer shall offer a commercial guarantee to ensure that the portable computer will function for at least three
years. This guarantee shall be valid from the date of delivery to the customer.

The availability of compatible replacement parts and service shall be guaranteed for five years from the time of shipment.

In addition, the portable computer shall meet the following criteria.

1. It shall have a modular design, allowing components to be easily accessible.

2. Upgradability shall be ensured for the random access memory. Exchangeability shall be ensured for at least the
processor, the hard disk and, if available, the CD-ROM drive. The processor may be exchanged by replacing the whole
motherboard.

3. One or more empty slots shall be available.

BEST PRACTICE CRITERIA

3. Take-back and recycling

The manufacturer shall offer, free of charge, the take-back for recycling of the portable computer and the components
being replaced, except for items contaminated by users (e.g.

in medical or nuclear applications).

In addition, the portable computer shall meet the following criteria.

1. One qualified person, alone, shall be able to dismantle it.

2. The manufacturer shall check the disassembly of the system unit and provide a disassembly report. Among others, the

report shall confirm that joints are:

— easy to find and accessible

— as standardised as possible

— accessible with commonly available tools.

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3. Incompatible and hazardous materials shall be separable.

4. 90 % (by volume) of plastic and metal materials in the housing and chassis shall be technically recyclable. Recycling in
this context refers to reuse, material recycling, or chemical recycling (e.g. pyrolysis, gasification). Metallisation of plastic
parts is allowed.

5. If labels are required, they shall be easily separable or inherent.

6. Plastic parts shall:

— have not lead or cadmium intentionally added,

— be of one polymer or compatible polymers, except for the cover, which shall consist of no more than two types of

polymers which are separable,

— contain no metal

inlays that cannot be separated.

7. Plastic parts heavier than 25 g, cables, and plastics for moulding of power supplies, batteries or other peripheral

equipment, shall:

(a) not contain the following flame retardants:

Name

CAS No

decabrom biphenyl

monobrom diphenylether

dibrom diphenylether

tribrom diphenylether

tetrabrom diphenylether

pentabrom diphenylether

hexabrom diphenylether

heptabrom diphenylether

octabrom diphenylether

nonabrom diphenylether

decabrom diphenylether

Chloroparaffin with chain length 10 to 13 atoms, chlorine content > 50 % by
weight

13654-09-6

101-55-3

2050-47-7

49690-94-0

40088-47-9

32534-81-9

36483-60-0

68928-80-3

32536-52-0

63936-56-1

1163-19-5

85535-84-8

(b) not contain flame redardant substances or preparations containing substances, that are assigned or may be
assigned any of the risk phrases R45 (may cause cancer), R46 (may cause heritable genetic damage), R50 (very
toxic to aquatic organisms), R51 (toxic to aquatic organisms), R52 (harmful to aquatic organisms), R53 (may cause
long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment), R60 (may impair fertility) or R61 (may cause harm to the
unborn child), as defined in Council Directive 67/548/EEC (1), as last amended by Commission Directive
98/98/EC (2);

(c) have a permanent marking identifying the material, in conformity with ISO 11469. Excluded from this criterion

are extruded plastic materials and the light-guide of flat panel displays.

8. Batteries shall not contain more than 0,0001 % of mercury, 0,001 % of cadmium or 0,01 % of lead by weight of the

battery.

9. The background lighting of a flat panel display shall:

(a) not contain more than 5 mg of mercury for displays smaller than 12 inches (30,48 cm, measured diagonally over

the active display surface)

(b) not contain more than 10 mg of mercury for larger displays.

4. User instructions

The portable computer shall be sold with relevant user information, which provides advice on the proper environmental
use and,

in particular.

1. Recommendations for the use of the power management features, including information that disabling these features

can lead to higher consumption of energy and thus can increase the running costs.

(1) OJ 196, 16.8.1967, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 355, 30.12.1998, p. 1.

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2. Information on the maximum and minimum energy use of the portable computer during operation, sleep, and off
modes, as well as an indication that the energy drawn from the mains can be reduced to zero if the computer is
unplugged or if the wall socket is switched off.

3. Information on the guarantee and the availability of spare parts. When it is appropriate for the consumer to upgrade

or exchange components,

information on the proper procedures shall be given.

4. Information about the fact that the product has been designed to enable proper reuse of parts and recycling and

should not be thrown away.

5. Advice on how the consumer can make use of the manufacturers take-back offer.

5. Environmental declaration

To the user:

An environmental declaration shall accompany the product and shall be available to the user. This document shall be in
conformity with the recommendations of ECMA's technical report 70 ‘Product-related environmental attributes’.

To the competent body:

A declaration shall be provided to the competent body of all liquid or gaseous substances amounting to more than
0,1 mg in the battery and the liquid crystal display, that are assigned or may be assigned any of the risk phrases R45
(may cause cancer), R46 (may cause heritable genetic damage), R50 (very toxic to aquatic organisms), R51 (toxic to
aquatic organisms), R52 (harmful to aquatic organisms), R53 (may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic
environment), R60 (may impair fertility) or R61 (may cause harm to the unborn child), as defined in Directive
67/548/EEC, as last amended by Commission Directive 98/98/EC.

TESTING

6. Testing laboratories

If testing is required,
requirements expressed in the standards EN 45001.

it shall be performed at the expense of the applicant by laboratories that meet the general

CONSUMER INFORMATION

The following text shall be provided in such a way as to be clearly visible for consumers (next to the label, whenever
possible).

This product qualifies for the European Union eco-label, because it is energy-efficient and is designed to facilitate exchangeability of
components, repairability, recycling and environmentally sound disposal.

Additional

information on how to minimise environmental

impacts is given in the user information.