CELEX: 51999PC0021
Language: en
Date: 1999-01-18
Title: Amended proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on a revised Community eco-label award scheme

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-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-Treaty on 19 January 1999)
                  ORIGINAL PROPOSAL                                                  AMENDED PROPOSAL
                                                     Recital 4a (new)
                                                                  Whereas for the acceptance by the general public of the
                                                                  European eco-label award system it is essential that
                                                                  environmental NGOs and consumer organisations have
                                                                  an important role in the decision-making process for the
                                                                  award of Community eco-labels;
                                                     Recital 9a (new)
                                                                  Whereas in the various stages of the award of an
                                                                  eco-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             Whereas it is necessary to introduce a grading in the
eco-label in order to stimulate and recognize further             eco-label in order to stimulate and recognize further
environmental improvements, over and above the hurdles            environmental improvements, over and above the hurdles
set for the award of the label;                                   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.ÚÙThe environmental impacts are identified on the               2.ÚÙThe environmental impacts are identified on the
basis of examination of the interactions with the                 basis of examination of the interactions with the
environment, including use of energy and natural                  environment, including use of energy and natural
resources, during the entire life cycle of a product.             resources, and with due regard for a high level of
                                                                  environmental protection, during the entire life cycle of a
                                                                  product.
 ---pagebreak--- 6.3.1999           EN                Official Journal of the European Communities                                 C 64/15
                  ORIGINAL PROPOSAL                                                AMENDED PROPOSAL
                                                         Article 3
                             Eco-label criteria and assessment and verification requirements
1.ÚÙSpecific eco-label criteria shall be established             1.ÚÙSpecific eco-label criteria shall be established
according to product groups. These criteria will set out         according to product groups. These criteria will set out
the requirements for each of the key environmental               the requirements for each of the key environmental
aspects mentioned in Article 2, which a product must             aspects mentioned in Article 2, which a product must
fulfil in order to be considered for the award of an             fulfil in order to be considered for the award of an
eco-label.                                                       eco-label. The degree of technical reliability relating to
                                                                 the quality of the product will be addressed.
                                                         Article 4
                                                          Scope
5.ÚÙThis Regulation shall not apply to food, drink or            5.ÚÙThis Regulation shall not apply to food, drink,
pharmaceuticals.                                                 pharmaceuticals or medical devices.
                                                         Article 6
                                                  Awarding the eco-label
2.ÚÙThe application may refer to a product put on the            2.ÚÙThe application may refer to a product put on the
market under one or more brand names. No new                     market under one or more brand names. No new
application will be required for modifications in the            application will be required for modifications in the
characteristics of products which do not affect                  characteristics of products which do not affect
compliance with the criteria.                                    compliance with the criteria. The competent bodies must
                                                                 however be informed about these modifications.