European Ecolabel in danger of weakening

The European Environmental Bureau, Europe's largest federation of environmental citizens groups, has urged Member States to ensure that European Ecolabel remains a label of environmental excellence. Ahead of crucial votes on five product groups, the EEB has sent a letter to Environment Ministers to oppose final Commission proposals including elements EEB considers unacceptable for a policy tool meant to serve as a benchmark for environmental performance in products.

John Hontelez, Secretary General EEB, said, "We are seriously concerned about the general trend in the Commission to weaken the Ecolabel's ambition, which is in direct conflict with its aim of being a label that represents 'environmental excellence'. The label is meant to be awarded only to the highest environmental performers and, as a voluntary market-based tool, should go beyond and not merely reflect existing legislation".

In its letter to ministers, EEB expressed concern about a number of specific product groups, including textiles, bed mattresses and furniture, and called for the following elements to be excluded from Ecolabel:

    * Flame retardants in particular decaBDE and biocides in textiles and mattresses;
    * PVC in wooden furniture; and
    * GMOs in wooden furniture, something that Member States have already agreed to exclude but the Commission has proposed again.

Blanca Morales, EEB's Ecolabel Policy Officer, commented, "The final Commission proposals include major changes that do not reflect general discussions within the EU Ecolabelling Board or working groups where the criteria were developed. This means that the Ecolabel falls behind legislation as well as public expectation".

The EEB aims to promote knowledge and understanding of the current and potential EU environmental and sustainable development policies amongst the general public in the EU, so that this will lead them generally to mobilise for continuous improvement.