(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.

(2)

Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established according to product groups.

(3)

In order to better reflect the state of the art of the market for this product group and innovation, it is considered appropriate to modify the scope of the product group and to establish a revised set of ecological criteria.

(4)

Commission Decision 2011/330/EU (2) and Commission Decision 2011/337/EU (3) addressed separately notebook and personal computers. It is appropriate to merge the criteria laid down in Decisions 2011/330/EU and 2011/337/EU into one criterion in order to reduce the administrative burden for competent bodies and applicants. Moreover, the revised criteria reflect a broadening of the scope to address new products such as tablet and all-in-one portable computers, as well as new requirements on hazardous substances that were introduced subsequent to the Decisions 2011/330/EU and 2011/337/EU by Regulation (EC) No 66/2010.

(5)

The criteria aim, in particular, at promoting products that have a lower environmental impact and contribute to sustainable development along their life cycle, are energy efficient, are durable, repairable and upgradeable, easy to dismantle and recover resources from for recycling at the end of their useful life and which restrict the presence of hazardous substances (4). Products with improved performance in relation to these aspects should be promoted via the Ecolabel. It is therefore appropriate to establish EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘personal, notebook and tablet computers’.

(6)

The criteria also promote the social dimension of sustainable development by introducing requirements regarding labour conditions at final assembly plants, with reference to the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the UN Global Compact, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multi-National Enterprises.

(7)

The revised criteria, as well as the related assessment and verification requirements should be valid for three years from the date of adoption of this Decision, taking into account the innovation cycle for this product group.

(8)

Decisions 2011/330/EU and 2011/337/EU should therefore be replaced by this Decision.

(9)

A transitional period should be allowed for producers whose products have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for personal and notebook computers on the basis of the criteria set out in Decisions 2011/330/EU and 2011/337/EU, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the revised criteria and requirements.

(10)

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,