Commercial Information Circulars

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Ref : EIC 230/4/1

19 April 2007

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 171/2007

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

Further to Commercial Information Circulars No. 109/2002 of 31 May 2002, No. 41/2003 of 2 February 2003, No. 263/2004 of 28 October 2004 and No. 198/2005 of 4 June 2005, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Decision to extend the validity of the existing ecological criteria for six product groups (viz. tissue paper, televisions, textile products, refrigerators, detergents for dishwashers and washing machines) under the Community Eco-label Award Scheme. Details are set out in Commission Decision 2007/207/EC (the Decision). The Decision can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_092/l_09220070403en00160017.pdf

DETAILS

2. Under the Decision, the validity of the ecological criteria for six product groups will be extended. Salient points of the product group definitions and their ecological criteria are set out in paragraphs below.

Televisions

3. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for televisions were established in April 2002. The product group has been defined to comprise mains powered electronic equipment which is designed to receive, decode and display TV transmission signals, whether analogue or digital, broadcast via satellite, cable or antenna signals and has a screen size of ten inches (25cm) or more. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including energy savings, recycling and user instructions.
   
   
4. The current ecological criteria which were expired on 31 March 2007 are now extended to 31 March 2008.
   

Tissue Paper

5. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for tissue paper were established in May 2001. This product group has been defined as sheets or rolls of tissue paper fit for use for personal hygiene, absorption of liquids and/or cleaning of soiled surfaces. The tissue product normally consists of creped or embossed paper in one or several piles. The fibre content of the product should be at least 90%. Laminated tissue products and wet wipes are excluded from the product group. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including emissions to water and air and energy used during production, the use of hazardous chemical substances, waste management, product safety and consumer information.
   
   
6. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 4 May 2007 are now extended to 4 May 2008.
   

Textile Products

7. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for textile products were established in May 2002. The product group has been defined to cover textile clothing and accessories, interior textiles (excluding wall and floor coverings) and fibres, yarn and fabric. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including predetermined limits of residues of certain ecotoxic/toxic substances, restriction on/exclusion of the use of certain chemicals in the production processes, performance parameters on fitness for use such as dimensional changes during washing and drying, colour fastness to washing, etc.
   
   
8. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 May 2007 are now extended to 31 May 2008.
   

Refrigerators

9. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for refrigerators were established in May 2004. The product group has been defined to comprise all electric, mains-operated household refrigerators, frozen food storage cabinets, food freezers and their combinations. Appliances that may use other energy sources, such as batteries, are excluded. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including energy savings, reduction of ozone depletion and global warming potential of refrigerants and foaming agents, recycling, user instructions and noise emissions.
   
   
10. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 May 2007 are now extended to 31 May 2008.
    

Washing Machines

11. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for washing machines were established in December 1999. The product group has been defined to cover front and top loading household washing machines excluding twin-tubs and water-dryers. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including energy efficiency, water consumption, spin drying efficiency, noise emissions, prevention of excessive use of detergent, appliance design and user instructions.
    
    
12. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 30 November 2007 are now extended to 30 November 2008.
    

Detergents for Dishwashers

13. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for detergents for dishwashers were established in January 2003. The product group has been defined to comprise all detergents intended for use exclusively in automatic domestic dishwashers and all detergents intended for use in automatic dishwashers operated by professional users but similar to automatic domestic dishwashers in terms of machine size and usage. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including ingredients, product packaging, washing performance and consumer information.
    
    
14. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 December 2007 are now extended to 31 December 2008.
    
    
15. Details of the Eco-label Award Scheme and the definition and the ecological criteria of its product groups can be found in the European Commission's Eco-label website at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/index_en.htm.
    

ENQUIRIES

16. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5500.

Yours faithfully,

(K H NG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

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

Note 1: 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.
Note 2 : The biweekly newsletter "Business Alert - EU" of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council provides up-to-date information on the latest developments in EU trade policy and trade regulations. The newsletter is available for free e-subscription and can be accessed through http://www.tdctrade.com/alert/eualert.htm.