COMMISSION DECISION
of 16 December 1999
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to refrigerators
(notified under document number C(1999) 4522)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2000/40/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of 23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) thereof,
(1) Whereas the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 provides that the conditions for the award of the Community eco-label shall be defined by product groups;
(2) Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that environment performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for product groups;
(3) Whereas it is appropriate to establish criteria expressing test methods and classification for energy consumption in conformity with Commission Directive 94/2/EC of 21 January 1994 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household electric refrigerators, freezers and their combinations(2) and, moreover, to adapt the energy-consumption requirements to technological innovation and market developments;
(4) Whereas, by Decision 96/703/EC(3), the Commission established ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to refrigerators, which, according to Article 3 thereof, expire on 27 November 1999;
(5) Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new Decision establishing ecological criteria for this product group, in order to allow for the participation in the Community eco-label award scheme of manufacturers and importers of refrigerators;
(6) Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within a consultation forum;
(7) Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group "refrigerators" (hereinafter referred to as "the product group") shall mean:
Electric, mains-operated household refrigerators, frozen food storage cabinets, food freezers and their combinations.
Appliances that may also use other energy sources, such as batteries, are excluded.
Article 2
The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product group shall be assessed by reference to the criteria set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The product group definition and the criteria for the product group shall be valid from the date of notification of this Decision until 1 December 2002. If, however, on 1 December 2002 a new Decision establishing the product group definition and the criteria for this product group has not yet been adopted, this period of validity shall instead end either on 1 December 2003 or on the date of adoption of the new Decision, whichever is sooner.
Article 4
For administrative purposes the product group code number assigned to this product group shall be "012"'.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 16 December 1999.