COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2016/1332
of 28 July 2016
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for furniture
(notified under document C(2016) 4778)
(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 Articles 6(7) and 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 2009/894/EC (2) has established the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for wooden furniture, which are valid until 31 December 2016. |
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(4) |
In order to better reflect the range of furniture products on the market, the state of the art for these products and to take into account the innovation of the last few years, it is appropriate to extend the scope of the product group to include non-wooden furniture and to establish a revised set of ecological criteria. |
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(5) |
The revised ecological criteria aim at using materials produced in a more sustainable way (considering a life cycle analysis approach), limiting the use of hazardous compounds, the levels of hazardous residues, the contribution of furniture to indoor air pollution and promoting a durable and high-quality product that is easy to repair and disassemble. The revised criteria, along with the related assessment and verification requirements should be valid for six years from the date of adoption of this Decision, taking into account the innovation cycle for this product group. |
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(6) |
Decision 2009/894/EC should therefore be replaced. |
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(7) |
It is appropriate to allow a transitional period for producers whose products have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for wooden furniture on the basis of the ecological criteria set out in Decision 2009/894/EC, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the revised ecological criteria and requirements. Producers should also be allowed to submit applications based on the ecological criteria set out in Decision 2009/894/EC for a sufficient period of time. |
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(8) |
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 2009/894/EC of 30 November 2009 on establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label for wooden furniture (OJ L 320, 5.12.2009, p. 23).