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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : tidenq@tid.gcn.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/4/1

25 September 2002

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 186/02

European Union (EU)*:Community Eco-label Award Scheme

Further to Commercial Information Circulars No. 127/99 of 28 August 1999, No. 120/01 of 4 August 2001 and No. 144/01 of 13 September 2001, the European Commission (EC) has revised the ecological criteria and their validity period for the award of the Community eco-label to (i) indoor paints and varnishes, (ii) bed mattresses, (iii) copying and graphic paper, and (iv) light bulbs in order to reflect the developments in the market. Besides, the EC has modified the product group definitions of these products. Copies of the Commission Decisions on indoor paints and varnishes (2002/739/EC), bed mattresses (2002/740/EC), copying and graphic paper (2002/741/EC) and light bulbs (2002/747/EC) (pdf format) are at Attachment I to IV respectively for reference.

DETAILS

Revised Product Group Definitions and Eco-label Criteria

  1. In brief, the revised definitions of the above four product groups are -

    1. indoor paints and varnishes: comprise indoor decorative paints and varnishes, woodstains and related products for use by do-it-yourself and professional users, and that are primarily developed for indoor use and marketed as such. The product group includes floor coatings and floor paints. Seven types of products such as anti-corrosion coatings and anti-fouling coatings are excluded.
       

    2. bed mattresses: comprise bed mattresses, latex form for use in bed mattresses and polyurethane foam for use in bed mattresses. The product group includes framed sprung mattresses but excludes inflatable mattresses and water mattresses.
       

    3. copying and graphic paper: comprise sheets or reels of unprinted paper which are used for printing or copying or writing or drawing. Newsprint, thermally sensitive paper and carbonless paper are not included in the product group.
       

    4. Light bulbs: comprise single-ended light bulbs and double-ended light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps with a magnetic ballast, projector lamps, photographic lighting and solarium tubes are excluded from the product group.

  2. As for the revised eco-label criteria for the above four product groups, please refer to the relevant Annexes in Attachments I to IV. These revised eco-label criteria have taken effect on 1 September 2002 and will be valid for four years for light bulbs and five years for the other three groups.

Transitional Arrangements

  1. To allow time for companies to adapt to the revisions, the EC has introduced the following transitional arrangements -

    1. For indoor paints and varnishes, copying and graphic paper and light bulbs, the existing product group definitions and eco-label criteria will be valid until 31 August 2003. Eco-label awarded to these product groups before 1 September 2002 may continue to be used until 31 August 2003. For applications of eco-label made before 1 September 2002, eco-label may be awarded under the terms of the existing product group definitions and eco-label criteria. In these cases, eco-labels so awarded may be used until 31 August 2003.
       

    2. For bed mattresses, the existing product group definition and eco-label criteria will be valid until 31 January 2004. Eco-label awarded to this group of product before 1 September 2002 may continue to be used until 31 January 2004. For applications of eco-label made before 1 September 2002, eco-label may be awarded under the terms of the existing product group definition and eco-label criteria. In these cases, eco-labels so awarded may be used until 31 January 2004.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the contents of this Circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Attachment I, II, III and IV (pdf format)

* : The EU Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.



  • While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.