Commercial Information Circulars

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

Ref : EIC 230/4/1

6 February 2009

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 67/2009

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

Further to Commercial Information Circulars No. 178/2005 of 26 May 2005, No. 267/2007 of 10 July 2007, No. 69/2008 of 23 January 2008 and No. 207/2008 of 3 April 2008, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Decision to extend the validity of the existing ecological criteria for seven product groups (viz. tissue paper products, televisions, textile products, bed mattresses, copying and graphic paper, personal computers and portable computers) under the Community Eco-label Award Scheme. Details are set out in Commission Decision 2008/962/EC (the Decision). The Decision can be accessed through the following link :
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:340:0115:0116:EN:PDF

DETAILS

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

Tissue Paper Products

3. 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, energy used during production, the use of hazardous chemical substances, waste management, product safety and consumer information.
    
4. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 4 May 2009 are now extended to 4 January 2010.

Televisions

5. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for televisions were established in March 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.
    
6. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 31 March 2009 are now extended to 31 October 2009.

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 2009 are now extended to 31 December 2009.

Bed Mattresses

9. 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.
    
10. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 28 February 2009 are now extended to 31 December 2009.

Copying and Graphic Paper

11. 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.
     
12. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 28 February 2009 are now extended to 31 May 2010.

Personal Computers

13. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for personal computers were established in April 2005. The product group has been defined as 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. To qualify for the Community eco-labels, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including energy savings, lifetime extension, mercury content of a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, noise, electromagnetic emissions, take-back, recycling and hazardous substances, user instructions and packaging.
     
14. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 30 April 2009 are now extended to 31 May 2010.

Portable Computers

15. The current product group definition and the ecological criteria for portable computers were established in April 2005. The product group has been defined as 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. To qualify for the Community eco-labels, the product concerned must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas including energy savings, lifetime extension, mercury content of the display, noise, electromagnetic emissions, take-back, recycling and hazardous substances, user instructions and packaging.
     
16. The current ecological criteria which will be expired on 30 April 2009 are now extended to 31 May 2010.

ENQUIRIES

17. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5556.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Peggy LEUNG)
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.