Revised community eco-label award scheme (regul. 880/92/EEC)

Noting that the eco-label system had not operated very well as very few EU citizens had seen products on their supermarket shelves labelled with the little flower logo, the rapporteur supported the choice of a single flower as the logo instead of the complicated system proposed by the Commission. He also called for an advertising campaign for the logo in order to get the system up and running and improve its recognition among the population. He also said that Parliament did not want to abolish the existing national systems but did want to ensure that all existing labels were complementary. Commissioner Bjerregaard considered that the Commission’s proposal on the logo was the best one possible. She did not want there to be too many different labelling systems. As for extending the system to the service sector, she was sceptical as to whether such a possibility could exist in the near future. Likewise, with regard to the transparency amendments (Nos 16, 17 and 27), the Commissioner felt that these were premature. In addition, Amendment No 17 was already covered by other provisions. Finally, Mrs Bjerregaard thought that Amendments Nos 31 to 34 were interesting but added that the Commission would have to consider their financial consequences.