Commercial Information Circulars

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Ref : EIC 230/4/1

9 December 2008

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 616/2008

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

Further to Commercial Information Circulars No. 178/2005 of 26 May 2005, No. 197/2005 of 4 June 2005, No. 171/2007 of 19 April 2007 and No. 267/2007 of 10 July 2007, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Decision to extend the validity of the existing ecological criteria for five product groups (viz. all-purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities, detergents for dishwashers, hand dishwashing detergents, light bulbs and lubricants) under the Community Eco-label Award Scheme. Details are set out in Commission Decision 2008/889/EC (the Decision). The Decision can be accessed through the following link :
  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:318:0012:0013:EN:PDF

DETAILS

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

All-Purpose Cleaners and Cleaners for Sanitary Facilities

3. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for all-purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities were established in March 2005. The product group has been defined to comprise 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. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including toxicity to aquatic organisms, biodegradability of surfactants, dangerous, hazardous or toxic substances or preparations, biocides, dyes or colouring agents, fragrances, sensitising substances, volatile organic compounds, phosphorus, packaging requirements, fitness for use and user instructions.

4. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 December 2008 are now extended to 31 December 2010.

Detergents for Dishwashers

5. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for detergents for dishwashers were established in November 2002. 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.

6. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 December 2008 are now extended to 31 December 2010.

Hand Dishwashing Detergents

7. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for hand dishwashing detergents were established in March 2005. The product group has been defined to 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. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including toxicity to aquatic organisms, biodegradability of surfactants, dangerous, hazardous or toxic substances or preparations, biocides, dyes or colouring agents, fragrances, sensitising substances, harmful or corrosive properties, packaging requirements, fitness for use and user instructions.

8. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 December 2008 are now extended to 31 December 2010.

Light Bulbs

9. 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.

10. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 28 February 2009 are now extended to 30 April 2010.

Lubricants

11. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for lubricants were established in April 2005. The product group has been defined to comprise hydraulic oils, greases, chainsaw oils, two stroke oils, concrete release agents and other total loss lubricants, for use by consumers and professional users. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including environmental and health hazards, aquatic toxicity requirements, biodegradability and bioaccumulative potential, exclusion of specific substances, renewable raw materials, technical performance and information on the label.

12. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 May 2009 are now extended to 31 July 2010.

ENQUIRIES

13. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Chandler CHAN)
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.