Commercial Information Circulars

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Ref : EIC 230/4/1

12 June 2014

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 565/2014

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

Further to Commercial Information Circular No 564/2014 dated 12 June 2014, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Decision to establish the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for water-based heaters. Details are set out in Commission Decision 2014/314/EU (the Decision), which can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:JOL_2014_164_R_0012&from=EN

DETAILS

2.Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established according to product groups. The results of a study showed that the energy consumption in the use phase of the product group "water-based heaters" contributed most significantly to the overall environmental impact. Therefore, the use of energy-efficient and low greenhouse gas-emitting water-based heaters should be promoted and such heaters using more environmental friendly technologies and proven to be safe for consumers should be supported. So, it is appropriate to establish EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group "water-based heaters".

3.In order to be awarded the EU Ecolabel, an item of water-based heater should fall within the definition as stated in Article 1, except those in Article 1(4) of the Decision and should comply with the criteria as well as the related assessment and verification requirements as set out in the Annex of the Decision. The criteria for the product group "water-based heaters", as well as the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid for four years up to 28 May 2018.

ENQUIRIES

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

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Anita WONG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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.