COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2017/175
of 25 January 2017
on establishing EU Ecolabel criteria for tourist accommodation
(notified under document C(2017) 299)
(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:
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(1) |
Under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, the EU Ecolabel may be awarded to services 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 for each product group. |
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(3) |
Commission Decisions 2009/564/EC (2) and 2009/578/EC (3) have established the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for campsite service and tourist accommodation service, respectively, which are valid until 31 December 2016. |
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(4) |
For the purpose of better reflecting the common features of campsite services and tourist accommodation services and in order to achieve synergies from a joint approach for these product groups and to ensure maximum efficiency in the administration of the criteria, it is considered appropriate to merge both product groups into one product group named ‘tourist accommodation’. |
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(5) |
The revised criteria aim at promoting the use of renewable energy sources, to save energy and water, to reduce waste and to improve the local environment. The revised criteria, along with the related assessment and verification requirements should be valid for 5 years from the date of notification of this Decision, taking into account the innovation cycle for this product group. |
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(6) |
A code corresponding to the product group is an integral part of the EU Ecolabel registration numbers. In order for the competent bodies to be able to assign an EU Ecolabel registration number to tourist accomodations complying with the EU Ecolabel criteria, it is necessary to assign a code number to that product group. |
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(7) |
Decisions 2009/564/EC and 2009/578/EC should therefore be repealed. |
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(8) |
It is appropiate to allow a transitional period for applicants whose tourist accommodation services or campsite services have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for campsite services and tourist accommodation services on the basis of the criteria set out in Decisions 2009/564/EC and 2009/578/EC, respectively, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their product to comply with the revised criteria requirements. Applicants should also be allowed to submit applications based on the ecological criteria set out in 2009/564/EC and 2009/578/EC for a sufficient period of time. |
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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 2009/564/EC of 9 July 2009 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label for campsite service (OJ L 196, 28.7.2009, p. 36).
(3) Commission Decision 2009/578/EC of 9 July 2009 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label for tourist accommodation service (OJ L 198, 30.7.2009, p. 57).