Environmental Project, 1109 – The EU Eco-label and Health

The EU Eco-label and Health

1 Introduction

Since its adoption in 1992 the Regulation on a Community eco-label award scheme (“the EU eco-label”) has been revised in 2000 /1/ and now faces a new revision in 2006.

From its first adoption in 1992, the EU eco-label has been targeting environmental impacts seen in a life cycle perspective. Health aspects were covered in the 1992 regulation in relation to workers environment in the sense that environmental improvements were not to be achieved in a way that would reduce the protection of workers environment (Article 1). Health aspects were also covered in relation to chemicals, as the Eco-label was not to be awarded to substances or preparations classified as dangerous according to the relevant chemicals directives (Article 2, sec. 4)

In practice, however, a number of the criteria documents adopted took considerations of health aspects especially in the area of chemicals beyond the scope of the regulation.

The revision in 2000 led to a higher emphasis on health aspects in the regulation, as it is stated in the environmental requirements of the regulation (Article 3, sec. 2a) that “considerations shall be given to the net environmental balance between the environmental benefits and burdens, including health and safety aspects.” Also the term “dangerous” applied in the 1992 regulation was explicitly explained: The label is not to be awarded to substances or preparations classified as toxic, very toxic, carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction or mutagenic according to the relevant EU directives (Article 2, sec. 4).

Since 1992, environmental protection measures have gradually developed from an emission control strategy via a cleaner technology/product focus to a sustainable development concept. In line with this development, the EU eco-label criteria documents have gradually taken on board a broader coverage of not only environmental aspects strictly speaking but also health protection aspects. This was reflected in the regulation revision from 2000 and will presumably be further extended in the revision ahead.

The present report argues for the establishment of a balanced environmental and health label scheme – a “health and eco-label” or ultimately a “sustainable development label”.

Chemicals are the primary focus of the report. Health aspects are covered only regarding the direct potential of chemical substances and preparations to influence health. Other issues of relevance for health, i.e. ethical, social and physical health aspects, are not included. As far as possible the definitions applied in the regulation have been used: i.e. the term “chemicals” is applied as a combined term for substances and preparations. The term “goods” is applied synonymously with the term “articles” applied in the REACH proposal

The provisions for the present regulation of chemicals are outlined (chapter 4) and the present coverage of chemical related criteria in a number of relevant criteria documents is analysed (chapter 5). With the objective to promote a more balanced health and environmental focus, a number of amendments to the Regulation are finally proposed (Chapter 6).

The report is targeted at competent bodies and stakeholders involved in EU eco-label work. Thus, the objective of the report is not to explain the background for the development of eco-labels or the present working procedures related to eco-label criteria documents.