Commercial Information Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/4/1

26 May 2005

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 178/2005

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

Further to Commercial Information Circulars No.120/2001 of 4 August 2001, No. 144/2001 of 13 September 2001 and No. 147/2001 of 25 September 2001, the European Commission (the Commission) has revised the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to four product groups, viz. personal computers, hand dishwashing detergents, portable computers, and all-purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities. Besides, the Commission has modified the definitions of these product groups. Details are set out in Commission Decisions 2005/341/EC, 2005/342/EC, 2005/343/EC and 2005/344/EC (the Decisions), copies of which are at Attachments I to IV (pdf format) for reference.

DETAILS

Revised Product Group Definitions and Ecological Criteria

2. Under the Decisions, the product group definitions of personal computers, hand dishwashing detergents, portable computers, and all-purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities have been modified as follows -
   
   
   1. Personal computers: comprise computers designed for use in a fixed location, such as on a desk, and consisting of a system unit and display, whether or not combined in a single case, as well as a keyboard. The product group also covers system units, keyboards and displays designed for use with personal computers. Servers are excluded.
      
      
   2. Hand dishwashing detergents: comprise all detergents intended to be used, to wash by hand, dishes, crockery, cutlery, pots, pans, kitchen utensils and so on. The product group covers products for both private and professional use.
      
      
   3. Portable computers: comprise all computers which can be used in multiple locations, which consist of a system unit, display and keyboard combined in a single case, which are intended to be easily transported between locations and which can be used with an internal battery. The product group also covers devices equipped with a touch screen keyboard. Products whose primary use is not computing are excluded.
      
      
   4. All-purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities: compose of three types of products, viz. (i) all-purpose cleaners comprising detergent products intended for the routine cleaning of floors, walls, ceilings, windows and other fixed surfaces, and which are dissolved or diluted in water prior to use; (ii) window cleaners comprising specific all-purpose cleaners intended for the routing cleaning of windows; and (iii) cleaners for sanitary facilities comprising detergent products intended for the routine removal, including by scouring, of dirt and/or deposits in sanitary facilities (however, disinfectants, products which are automatically used when a toilet is flushed, products for use in a toilet cistern, and those which have no cleaning effects other than the removal of calcium carbonate (scale) are excluded). Products for more specific cleaning uses, such as oven cleaners, floor-strippers, polishes, drain cleaners, etc. are not included. The product group covers products for both private and professional use.
      
      
3. To qualify for the Community eco-labels, the products concerned must comply with the revised ecological criteria as set out in the relevant Annexes to the Decisions. These revised ecological criteria will be valid until 30 April 2009 for personal computers and portable computers, and 31 December 2008 for hand dishwashing detergents and all-purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities.

Transitional Arrangements

4. To allow sufficient time for producers/applicants to adapt to the revisions, eco-labels awarded to these four product groups before 4 May 2005 may continue to be used until 31 March 2006. For applications of eco-label made before 4 May 2005, eco-label may be awarded under the terms of the previous ecological criteria. In these cases, eco-label so awarded may be used until 31 March 2006.

ENQUIRIES

5. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Sandra SOU)

Attachments I, II, III and IV

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Note : 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.