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

The European Parliament has adopted the report drafted by Mr. Horst SCHNELLHARDT (EPP/ED, D) for a resolution on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Regulation on a revised Community Eco-Label Award Scheme. This opinion was subject to several amendments relating to: - the promotion of products awarded the eco-label and the creation of a mechanism for the exchange of information on existing and future product groups at national and at European Union level; - the application fee paid by SMEs, product manufacturers and service providers in developing countries will be reduced by at least 2.5%. In addition, the EP also included a new Article relating to the working plan: the first review of the working plan on how the plans for coordination and cooperation between the Community system and the national environmental labelling systems are being implemented. Furthermore, there is also an additional Article relating to the product: if a product is entitled to carry both the Community eco-label and the national label, the two logos shall be displayed side by side on the product. In conclusion, the European Parliament has stated that in drawing up the assessment and verification requirements the objective of keeping costs to a strict minimum must be observed. This is particularly important in order to facilitate participation by SMEs in the Community eco-label system and thus to contribute to the wider dissemination of the system.�