Commercial Information Circulars

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Ref : EIC 230/4/1

28 January 2010

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 49/2010

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

The European Commission has adopted a Decision to establish the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for the award of Community Eco-label to wooden floor coverings. Details are set out in Commission Decision 2010/18/EC (the Decision), which can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:008:0032:0042:EN:PDF 

DETAILS

2. Under the Decision, the product group "wooden floor coverings" has been defined to be wood-based and plant-based coverings, including wood and timber coverings, laminate floorings, cork coverings and bamboo floorings which are made, for more than 90% in mass (in the final product), from wood, wood powder and/or wood/plant-based material. However, wall floorings, where properly indicated, or coverings for external use or for coverings with a structural function are not included. In addition, coverings treated with biocidal products at any stage of production are also excluded from the product group, except where those biocidal products are included in Annex IA to the Directive 98/8/EC, and where the active substance is authorised for the use in question according to Annex V to the Directive 98/8/EC.
   
   

3. To qualify for the Community eco-label, the wooden floor coverings must meet specific ecological criteria on certain areas, including raw materials, use of dangerous substances, production process, use phase, packaging, fitness for use, and consumer information. Details are set out in Annex of the Decision.
   
   

4. The ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid for four years from the date of notification of the Decision.
   

ENQUIRIES

5. For enquiries concerning the content 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.