| LEGISLATION - ECO-LABELS – OVERVIEW Manufacturers promote the compliance with environmental standards of their products in two ways – via self declaration or via use of Eco-Labels. National Eco-Labels in Europe Among worldwide existing Eco-Labels, there are a large number of European-based Eco-Labels, which are used on products marketed worldwide. The most important Eco-Labels for the electronics industry, which often uses flame retardants in its consumer products, are the following:
All Eco-Labels are voluntary and not part of national legislation. Most Eco-Labels enable BFRs to be used with a few exceptions. Ecolabels have been developed to set up environmental criteria for a number of product groups. These criteria have to be fulfilled by a manufacturer in order to qualify for an Eco-Label. Due to the flood of competing Eco-Labels, many producers choose to also self-declare their commitment to environmental standards, often in combination with the use of Eco-Labels. Self declaration represents a more flexible system to show a company’s commitment to environmental standards (ECMA International – Standardizing Information and Communication Systems).
View the state of play for BFRs here
The scheme of the European Eco-Label applies to consumer product groups, for which criteria are established setting a standard of low environmental impact. The European Eco-Label is of voluntary nature and no producer is obliged to use it. The use of all BFRs is allowed if the substance does not fall into the range of the risk phrases mentioned for the Eco-Label in question applied by a producer. The European Eco-Label is based on risk-phrases (R-phrases) ranging from R1 to R68, depending on the type of risk. Within its 10 years of existence, Eco-Labels have been established for 21 product groups. Today 6 product groups apply to products containing flame retardants. Those are
The definition of product groups and the establishment of ecological criteria is decided by a Regulatory Committee of the EU or the Council of the EU on the basis of a proposal presented by the Commission or the EUEB (European Eco-Labelling Board), which is the central body of the scheme operating under the secretariat of the Commission. The EUEB consists of the Competent Bodies (member state representatives) and the Consultation Forum (industry, commerce, consumer organisations, trade unions and environment protection groups). The Competent Body and attached working groups are in charge of developing the criteria in advance of tabling the proposal. Product groups are usually defined for a period of 3 years to allow for a revision of the criteria along with technological developments.
Producers, importers, service providers, traders or retailers can apply from the Eco-Label at the authorities of the member state in which the company’s product originates. In cases where there are several manufacturing facilities, a member state may be chosen for the application. If the company originates outside the EU, the company has to apply to the authorities of one of the member states in which the product is to be placed on the market. The application has to include all required certification and requested documents, which will be examined by the competent body concerning its compliance with the European Eco-Label. For the list of companies using the EU Eco-Label please click here Within the product groups, which are of interest to the flame retardants industry, the following number of companies are using the EU Eco-Label:
Status: June 2003
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