Date: 2023-03-29Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Decision (EU) 2023/693 of 27 March 2023 amending Decisions (EU) 2017/1214, (EU) 2017/1215, (EU) 2017/1216, (EU) 2017/1217, (EU) 2017/1218, (EU) 2017/1219 and (EU) 2018/680 as regards the period of validity of the EU Ecolabel criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements (notified under document C(2023) 1886) (Text with EEA relevance)
Executive Summary:
This Commission Decision extends the validity of EU Ecolabel criteria for several product groups including detergents and indoor cleaning services. The extension allows the Commission to revise criteria in synergy with legislative initiatives. The validity of the criteria for detergents is extended until December 31, 2026, and for indoor cleaning services until December 31, 2027.
Key Points / Main Content:
Validity Extension:
* EU Ecolabel criteria validity extended for hand dishwashing detergents until December 31, 2026.
* EU Ecolabel criteria validity extended for industrial and institutional dishwasher detergents until December 31, 2026.
* EU Ecolabel criteria validity extended for dishwasher detergents until December 31, 2026.
* EU Ecolabel criteria validity extended for hard surface cleaning products until December 31, 2026.
* EU Ecolabel criteria validity extended for laundry detergents until December 31, 2026.
* EU Ecolabel criteria validity extended for industrial and institutional laundry detergents until December 31, 2026.
* EU Ecolabel criteria validity extended for indoor cleaning services until December 31, 2027.
Reason for Extension:
* To allow the Commission to revise the criteria in synergy with forthcoming legislative initiatives and bundle them together, if possible.
* Ensuring coherence with other Union policies, including the ongoing revision of Regulation EC No 648/2004 on detergents.
* To allow sufficient time to finalise the revision processes and to ensure market continuity to licence holders between current and revised versions of the criteria
Implementation:
* Decisions EU 2017/1214, EU 2017/1215, EU 2017/1216, EU 2017/1217, EU 2017/1218, EU 2017/1219, and EU 2018/680 are amended accordingly.
Addressees:
* The decision is addressed to the Member States.
Impact Analysis:
Member States:
Impact: Required to acknowledge and implement the extended validity periods for the EU Ecolabel criteria within their national frameworks.
Action Required: Update relevant documentation and systems to reflect the new validity dates.
EU Ecolabel License Holders (Detergent and Cleaning Service Companies):
Impact: Can continue to use the existing EU Ecolabel criteria until the specified extended dates (December 31, 2026, for detergents and December 31, 2027, for indoor cleaning services).
Action Required: Monitor for updates and revisions to the EU Ecolabel criteria during the extended validity period.
European Commission:
Impact: Responsible for carrying out the revision of the related criteria in synergy with forthcoming legislative initiatives.
Action Required: Proceed with the revision of the EU Ecolabel criteria for the relevant product groups, considering the ongoing revision of Regulation EC No 648/2004 and other relevant Union policies.
Key Entities Referenced
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day affairs.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining the scope of EU powers.
Regulation EC No 66/2010: A regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the EU Ecolabel scheme.
European Parliament: One of the legislative branches of the European Union.
Council of the European Union: One of the legislative branches of the European Union.
EU Ecolabel: A voluntary environmental performance certification scheme established by the European Union.
EU Ecolabelling Board: An advisory board that provides advice and assistance to the Commission regarding the EU Ecolabel.
Brussels: The de facto capital of the European Union, located in Belgium, where the decision was made.
29.3.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 91/11
COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2023/693
of 27 March 2023
amending Decisions (EU) 2017/1214, (EU) 2017/1215, (EU) 2017/1216, (EU) 2017/1217,
(EU) 2017/1218, (EU) 2017/1219 and (EU) 2018/680 as regards the period of validity of the EU
Ecolabel criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements
(notified under document C(2023) 1886)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009on the
EU Ecolabel(1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,
After consulting the European Union Ecolabelling Board,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that the EU Ecolabel may be awarded to products with a reduced
environmental impact during their entire life cycle. Specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established for each
product group.
(2) By Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1214(2), EU Ecolabel criteria were established for the product group ‘hand
dishwashing detergents’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements is
to expire on 26 June 2023.
(3) By Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1215(3), EU Ecolabel criteria were established for the product group ‘industrial
and institutional dishwasher detergents’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification
requirements is to expire on 26 June 2023.
(4) By Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1216(4), EU Ecolabel criteria were established for the product group
‘dishwasher detergents’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements is
to expire on 26 June 2023.
(5) By Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1217(5), EU Ecolabel criteria were established for the product group ‘hard
surface cleaning products’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements
is to expire on 26 June 2023.
(6) By Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1218(6), EU Ecolabel criteria were established for the product group ‘laundry
detergents’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements is to expire on
26 June 2023.
(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.2010, p. 1.
(2) Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1214 of 23 June 2017 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for hand dishwashing detergents
(OJ L 180, 12.7.2017, p. 1).
(3) Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1215 of 23 June 2017 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for industrial and institutional
dishwasher detergents (OJ L 180, 12.7.2017, p. 16).
(4) Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1216 of 23 June 2017 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for dishwasher detergents (OJ L 180,
12.7.2017, p. 31).
(5) Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1217 of 23 June 2017 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for hard surface cleaning products
(OJ L 180, 12.7.2017, p. 45).
(6) Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1218 of 23 June 2017 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for laundry detergents (OJ L 180,
12.7.2017, p. 63).L 91/12 EN Official Journal of the European Union 29.3.2023
(7) By Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1219(7), EU Ecolabel criteria were established for the product group ‘industrial
and institutional laundry detergents’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification
requirements is to expire on 26 June 2023.
(8) By Commission Decision (EU) 2018/680(8), EU Ecolabel criteria were established for the product group ‘indoor
cleaning services’. The validity of those criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements is to
expire on 3 May 2023.
(9) In line with the conclusions of the EU Ecolabel Fitness check of 30 June 2017(9), the Commission, with the advice
and assistance of the EU Ecolabelling Board, assessed and confirmed the relevance of the EU Ecolabel criteria for the
above-mentioned product groups, thereby implementing solutions to improve synergies across product groups and
to increase the uptake of EU Ecolabel. This would include bundling of closely related product groups, where
appropriate, and ensuring that, during the EU Ecolabel criteria revision process, the Commission pays appropriate
attention to the coherence between relevant Union policies, legislation and scientific evidence.
(10) The above-mentioned assessment revealed that, for the detergents product groups, a revision is needed in order to
ensure coherence with other Union policies. That revision will take into account the outcome of the on-going
revision of Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council(10). For indoor cleaning
services, the criteria were considered still up to date and likely to be up to date in the next years. Therefore, a
revision of related criteria could start at a later stage also allowing references to the revised criteria on detergents.
(11) In order for the Commission to carry out the revision of the related criteria in synergy with forthcoming legislative
initiatives and bundling them together, if possible, it is therefore appropriate to prolong the validity of the EU
Ecolabel criteria set out in Decisions (EU) 2017/1214, (EU) 2017/1215, (EU) 2017/1216, (EU) 2017/1217,
(EU) 2017/1218, (EU) 2017/1219 and (EU) 2018/680.
(12) To allow sufficient time to finalise the revision processes and to ensure market continuity to licence holders between
current and revised versions of the criteria, the period of validity of the current criteria and of the related assessment
and verification requirements should be prolonged until 31 December 2026 for hand dishwashing detergents,
industrial and institutional dishwasher detergents, dishwasher detergents, hard surface cleaning products, laundry
detergents, industrial and institutional laundry detergents. For indoor cleaning services, the period of validity of the
current criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements should be prolonged until 31 December
2027.
(13) Decisions (EU) 2017/1214, (EU) 2017/1215, (EU) 2017/1216, (EU) 2017/1217, (EU) 2017/1218, (EU) 2017/1219
and (EU) 2018/680 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(14) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by
Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010,
(7) Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1219 of 23 June 2017 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for industrial and institutional laundry
detergents (OJ L 180, 12.7.2017, p. 79).
(8) Commission Decision (EU) 2018/680 of 2 May 2018 establishing EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor cleaning services (OJ L 114,
4.5.2018, p. 22).
(9) Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the review of implementation of Regulation (EC)
No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations
in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) and the Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the parliament and of the
Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (COM(2017) 355 final).
(10) Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on detergents (OJ L 104, 8.4.2004,
p. 1).29.3.2023 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 91/13
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Amendment to Decision (EU) 2017/1214
Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2017/1214 is replaced by the following:
“Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘hand dishwashing detergents’ and the related assessment and verification
requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2026.”.
Article 2
Amendment to Decision (EU) 2017/1215
Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2017/1215 is replaced by the following:
“Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘industrial and institutional dishwasher detergents’ and the related
assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2026.”.
Article 3
Amendment to Decision (EU) 2017/1216
Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2017/1216 is replaced by the following:
“Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘dishwasher detergents’ and the related assessment and verification
requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2026.”.
Article 4
Amendment to Decision (EU) 2017/1217
Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2017/1217 is replaced by the following:
“Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘hard surface cleaning products’ and the related assessment and verification
requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2026.”.
Article 5
Amendment to Decision (EU) 2017/1218
Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2017/1218 is replaced by the following:
“Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘laundry detergents’ and the related assessment and verification requirements
shall be valid until 31 December 2026.”.L 91/14 EN Official Journal of the European Union 29.3.2023
Article 6
Amendment to Decision (EU) 2017/1219
Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2017/1219 is replaced by the following:
“Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘industrial and institutional laundry detergents’ and the related assessment
and verification requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2026.”.
Article 7
Amendment to Decision (EU) 2018/680
Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2018/680 is replaced by the following:
“Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘indoor cleaning services’ and the related assessment and verification
requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2027.”.
Article 8
Addressees
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 27 March 2023.
For the Commission
Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS
Member of the Commission