Commission Decision

of 14 October 2005

amending Decisions 2001/689/EC, 2002/231/EC and 2002/272/EC in order to prolong the validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to certain products

(notified under document number C(2005) 4102)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/783/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme [1], and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) thereof,

After consulting the European Union Eco-labelling Board,

Whereas:

(1) The product group definition and the ecological criteria set out in Commission Decision 2001/689/EC of 28 August 2001 establishing ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to dishwashers [2] expire on 28 August 2006.

(2) Commission Decision 2002/231/EC of 18 March 2002 establishing revised ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to footwear and amending Decision 1999/179/EC [3] expires on 31 March 2007.

(3) Commission Decision 2002/272/EC of 25 March 2002 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to hard floor coverings [4] expires on 31 March 2007.

(4) Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 a timely review has been carried out of the ecological criteria, as well as of the related assessment and verification requirements, established by those Decisions.

(5) In the light of the review of those criteria and requirements, it is appropriate in all three cases to prolong the period of validity of the ecological criteria and the requirements for a period of one year.

(6) Since the review obligation pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 concerns only the ecological criteria and assessment and verification requirements, it is appropriate that Decisions 2002/231/EC and 2002/272/EC remain in effect.

(7) Decisions 2001/689/EC, 2002/231/EC and 2002/272/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee instituted by Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Article 3 of Decision 2001/689/EC is replaced by the following:

"Article 3

The ecological criteria for the product group dishwashers, as well as the related assessment and verification requirements, shall be valid until 28 August 2007."

Article 2

Article 5 of Decision 2002/231/EC is replaced by the following:

"Article 5

The ecological criteria for the product group footwear, as well as the related assessment and verification requirements, shall be valid until 31 March 2008."

Article 3

Article 4 of Decision 2002/272/EC is replaced by the following:

"Article 4

The ecological criteria for the product group hard floor coverings, as well as the related assessment and verification requirements, shall be valid until 31 March 2008."

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 14 October 2005.

For the Commission

Stavros Dimas

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 237, 21.9.2000, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 242, 12.9.2001, p. 23.

[3] OJ L 77, 20.3.2002, p. 50.

[4] OJ L 94, 11.4.2002, p. 13.

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