Commission Decision of 28 May 2014 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (notified under document C(2014) 3429) (Text with EEA relevance) (2014/312/EU)

Commission Decision

of 28 May 2014

establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes

(notified under document C(2014) 3429)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2014/312/EU)

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.

(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 take into account the innovation of the last years, it is considered appropriate to modify the scope of the product group and establish a revised set of ecological criteria.

(4) Commission Decision 2009/543/EC(2) and Commission Decision 2009/544/EC(3) addressed separately indoor and outdoor paints. These have been amalgamated into one criteria document in order to reduce the administrative burden for competent bodies and applicants. Moreover, the revised criteria reflect new requirements on hazardous substances that were introduced subsequent to the previous decisions by Regulation (EC) No 66/2010.

(5) The criteria aim, in particular, at promoting products that have a lower environmental impact along their life cycle, are of high quality, have good performance and long durability, products which contain a limited amount of hazardous substances(4) and a limited amount of volatile organic compounds. 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 ‘paints and varnishes’.

(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.

(7) Decisions 2009/543/EC and 2009/544/EC should therefore be replaced by this Decision.

(8) A transitional period should be allowed for producers whose products have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes on the basis of the criteria set out in Decisions 2009/543/EC and 2009/544/EC, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the revised criteria and requirements.

(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:

(1)

OJ L 27, 30.1.2010, p. 1.

(2)

Commission Decision 2009/543/EC of 13 August 2008 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to outdoor paints and varnishes (OJ L 181, 14.7.2009, p. 27).

(3)

Commission Decision 2009/544/EC of 13 August 2008 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to indoor paints and varnishes (OJ L 181, 14.7.2009, p. 39).

(4)

Substances with hazard classifications established under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (the CLP Regulation) (OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1).