COMMISSION DECISION
of 5 June 2014
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for textile products
(notified under document C(2014) 3677)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2014/350/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)
Commission Decision 2009/567/EC (2) has established the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for textile products, which are valid until 30 June 2014.
(4)
In order to better reflect the state of the art of the market for this product group and take into account the innovation that has taken place during the intervening period, it is considered appropriate to modify the scope of the product group and establish a revised set of ecological criteria.
(5)
The criteria aim, in particular, at identifying products that have a lower environmental impact along their life cycle, with specific improvements so that they are: sourced from more sustainable forms of agriculture and forestry, manufactured using resources and energy more efficiently, manufactured using cleaner, less polluting processes, manufactured using less hazardous substances, designed and specified to be of high quality and durable. Criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to textiles are set for the aforementioned aspects and those products with improved performance on these aspects should be promoted. It is therefore appropriate to establish EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘textiles’.
(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)
Decision 2009/567/EC should therefore be replaced by this Decision.
(8)
A transitional period shall be allowed for producers whose products have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for textile products on the basis of the criteria set out in Decision 2009/567/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:
Article 1
1. The product group ‘textile products’ shall comprise:
(a)
Textile clothing and accessories: clothing and accessories consisting of at least 80 % by weight of textile fibres in a woven, non-woven or knitted form.
(b)
Interior textiles: textile products for interior use consisting of at least 80 % by weight of textile fibres in a woven, non-woven or knitted form.
(c)
Fibres, yarn, fabric and knitted panels: intended for use in textile clothing and accessories and interior textiles, including upholstery fabric and mattress ticking prior to the application of backings and treatments associated with the final product.
(d)
Non-fibre elements: zips, buttons and other accessories that are incorporated into the product. Membranes, coatings and laminates.
(e)
Cleaning products: woven or non-woven fabric products intended for the wet or dry cleaning of surfaces and the drying of kitchenware.
2. The following products are not included in the product group ‘textile products’:
(a)
products that are intended to be disposed of after a single use;
(b)
floor coverings, covered by Commission Decision 2009/967/EC (3);
(c)
fabrics that form part of structures intended for outdoor use.
3. Garments, fabrics and fibres that containing the following are excluded from the product group.
(a)
electrical devices or which form an integral part of electrical circuitry;
(b)
devices or impregnated substances designed to sense or react to changes in ambient conditions.
Article 2
For the purpose of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)
‘textile fibres’ means natural fibres, synthetic fibres and man-made cellulose fibres;
(b)
‘Natural fibres’ means cotton and other natural cellulosic seed fibres, flax and other bast fibres, wool and other keratin fibres;
(c)
‘Synthetic fibres’ means acrylic, elastane, polyamide, polyester and polypropylene;
(d)
‘Man-made cellulose fibres’ means lyocell, modal and viscose.
Article 3
For ‘textile clothing and accessories’ and for ‘interior textiles’ fillings, linings, padding, membranes and coatings made of fibres included in the scope of this Decision need not be taken into account in the calculation of the percentage of textile fibres.
Article 4
Filling materials that are not made from textile fibres shall comply with restrictions listed in criterion 10 set out in the Annex that relate to auxiliaries, surfactants, biocides and formaldehyde.
Article 5
The criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, for a product falling within the product group ‘textile products’ defined in Article 1 of this Decision as well as the related assessment and verification requirements are set out in the Annex.
Article 6
The criteria and the related assessment requirements set out in the Annex, shall be valid for four years from the date of adoption of this Decision.
Article 7
For administrative purposes, the code number assigned to the product group ‘textile products’ shall be ‘016’.
Article 8
Decision 2009/567/EC is repealed.
Article 9
1. Applications for the EU Ecolabel for products falling within the product group ‘textile products’ submitted within two months from the date of adoption of this Decision may be based either on the criteria set out in Decision 2009/567/EC, or on the criteria set out in this Decision. Applications shall be evaluated in accordance with the criteria on which they are based.
2. EU Ecolabel licences awarded in accordance with the criteria set out in Decision 2009/567/EC may be used for 12 months from the date of adoption of this Decision.
Article 10
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 June 2014.