Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 230/4/1

10 July 2007

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 267/2007

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

Further to Commercial Information Circulars No. 186/2002 of 25 September 2002, 198/2005 of 4 June 2005 and 494/2005 of 2 December 2005, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Decision to extend the validity of the existing ecological criteria for five product groups (viz. dishwashers, indoor paints and varnishes, bed mattresses, copying and graphic paper, and light bulbs) under the Community Eco-label Award Scheme. Details are set out in Commission Decision 2007/457/EC (the Decision). Separately, further to Commercial Information Circular No. 197/2005 of 4 June 2005, a corrigendum concerning the ecological criteria for lubricants has also been published. The Decision and the corrigendum can be accessed through the following links http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_173/l_17320070703en00290030.pdf and http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_131/l_13120070523en00270027.pdf respectively.

DETAILS

Extension of Ecological Criteria

2. Under the Decision, the validity of the ecological criteria for five product groups will be extended to 28 February 2009. Salient points of the product group definitions and their ecological criteria are set out in paragraphs below:

1. Dishwashers

The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for dishwashers were established in August 2001. The product group has been defined as electric mains-operated household dishwashers sold to the general public. Appliances that may also use other energy sources, such as batteries, or have no internal heat source, are excluded. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including energy efficiency, water consumption, prevention of excessive use of detergent, noise emission, cleaning and drying performance, and user instructions.

2. Indoor Paints and Varnishes

The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for indoor paints and varnishes were established in September 2002. The product group has been defined to 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. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including white pigments, volatile organic compounds (VACS), volatile aromatic hydrocarbons (VHS), heavy metals, dangerous substances, fitness for use and consumer information.

3. Bed Mattresses

The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for bed mattresses were established in September 2002. The product group has been defined to 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. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including latex foam, polyurethane (PUR) foam, wire and springs, coconut fibres, wooden material, textiles, glues, durability and information on the packaging.

4. Copying and Graphic Paper

The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for copying and graphic paper were established in September 2002. The product group has been defined as sheets or reels of unprinted paper which are used for printing, copying, writing or drawing. Newsprint, thermally sensitive paper and carbonless paper are not included in 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, energy use, fibres, hazardous chemical substances, waste management, fitness for use and information on the packaging.

5. Light Bulbs

The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for light bulbs were established in September 2002. The product group has been defined to 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. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including energy efficiency, lifetime, lumen maintenance, mercury content, flame retardants, packaging and user instructions.

Corrigendum on Lubricants

3. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for lubricants were established in April 2005. The product group has been defined to comprise, among other things, two stroke oils. The original ecological criteria did not distinguish the technical performance criteria for two-stroke oils for marine applications and terrestrial applications. The corrigendum therein sets out the technical performance criteria for these two applications separately.
   
   
4. 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

5. 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, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.