COMMISSION DECISION
of 19 July 1999
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to copying paper
(notified under document number C(1999) 2144)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/554/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 group;
(2) Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that the environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for product groups;
(3) Whereas, by Decision 96/467/EC(2), the Commission established ecological criteria for the award of Community Eco-label to copying paper, which, according to Article 3 thereof, expire 16 July 1999;
(4) Whereas it is appropriate to revise the definition of the product group and the ecological criteria that were established by Decision 96/467/EC in order to reflect the developments in the market;
(5) Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new Decision establishing the specific ecological criteria for this product group, which will be valid for a further period of three years after the expiry of the period of validity of the previous criteria;
(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 set out in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the committee set up under Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group "copying paper" (hereinafter referred to as "the product group") shall mean: "Sheets or reels of unprinted paper in different formats, which are used for copying, fax machines or office printers. Thermally sensitive paper and carbonless paper are excluded".
Article 2
The environmental performance of the product group as defined in Article 1 shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological criteria set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The product group definition and the criteria for the product group shall be valid from 17 July 1999 until 1 July 2002. If, however, on 1 July 2002 a new Decision establishing the ecological criteria for this product group has not yet been adopted, this period of validity shall instead end either on 1 July 2003 or on the date of adoption of the new Decision, whichever is sooner.
Article 4
For administrative purposes the code number assigned to the product group shall be "011".
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 July 1999.