THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel(1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,
After consulting the European Union Eco-labelling Board,
Whereas:
(1) Under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, the EU Ecolabel may be awarded to those products with a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established according to product groups.
(3) Commission Decision 1999/554/EC(2) has established the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for copying and graphic paper. Following the review of the criteria set out in that Decision, Commission Decision 2002/741/EC(3) has established revised criteria which are valid until 30 June 2011.
(4) Those criteria have been further reviewed in the light of technological developments. In the light of the review, it is appropriate to modify the definition of the product group and to establish new ecological criteria. Those new criteria, as well as the related assessment and verification requirements, should be valid for 4 years from the date of adoption of this Decision.
(5) Decision 2002/741/EC should be replaced for reasons of clarity.
(6) A transitional period should be allowed for producers whose products have been awarded the Ecolabel for copying and graphic paper on the basis of the criteria set out in Decision 2002/741/EC, so that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the revised criteria and requirements. Producers should also be allowed to submit applications based on the criteria set out in Decision 2002/741/EC or on the criteria set out in this Decision until the lapse of validity of that Decision.
(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: