COMMISSION DECISION
of 5 June 2014
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for textile products
(notified under document C(2014) 3677)
(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 2009 on the EU Ecolabel (1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,
After consulting the European Union Eco-labelling Board,
Whereas:
|
(1) |
Under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, the EU Ecolabel may be awarded to products which have a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle. |
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(2) |
Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established according to product groups. |
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(3) |
Commission Decision 2009/567/EC (2) has established the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for textile products, which are valid until 30 June 2014. |
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(4) |
In order to better reflect the state of the art of the market for this product group and take into account the innovation that has taken place during the intervening period, it is considered appropriate to modify the scope of the product group and establish a revised set of ecological criteria. |
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(5) |
The criteria aim, in particular, at identifying products that have a lower environmental impact along their life cycle, with specific improvements so that they are: sourced from more sustainable forms of agriculture and forestry, manufactured using resources and energy more efficiently, manufactured using cleaner, less polluting processes, manufactured using less hazardous substances, designed and specified to be of high quality and durable. Criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to textiles are set for the aforementioned aspects and those products with improved performance on these aspects should be promoted. It is therefore appropriate to establish EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘textiles’. |
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(6) |
The revised criteria, as well as the related assessment and verification requirements should be valid for four years from the date of adoption of this Decision, taking into account the innovation cycle for this product group. |
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(7) |
Decision 2009/567/EC should therefore be replaced by this Decision. |
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(8) |
A transitional period shall be allowed for producers whose products have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for textile products on the basis of the criteria set out in Decision 2009/567/EC, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the revised criteria and requirements. |
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(9) |
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, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
(2) Commission Decision 2009/567/EC of 9 July 2009 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community Ecolabel for textile products (OJ L 197, 29.7.2009, p. 70).