Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) thereof,

After consulting the European Union Eco-Labelling Board,

Whereas:

Commission Decision 2002/741/EC of 4 September 2002 establishing revised ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to copying and graphic paper and amending Decision 1999/554/EC^f2 expires on 31 May 2010.

Commission Decision 2002/747/EC of 9 September 2002 establishing revised ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to light bulbs and amending Decision 1999/568/EC^f3 expires on 30 April 2010.

Commission Decision 2003/200/EC of 14 February 2003 establishing revised ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to laundry detergents and amending Decision 1999/476/EC^f4 expires on 28 February 2010.

Commission Decision 2005/341/EC of 11 April 2005 establishing ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for the award of the Community eco-label to personal computers^f5 expires on 31 May 2010.

Commission Decision 2005/342/EC of 23 March 2005 establishing revised ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to hand dishwashing detergents^f6 expires on 31 December 2010.

Commission Decision 2005/343/EC of 11 April 2005 establishing ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for the award of the Community eco-label to portable computers^f7 expires on 31 May 2010.

Commission Decision 2005/344/EC of 23 March 2005 establishing ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to all purpose cleaners and cleaners for sanitary facilities^f8 expires on 31 December 2010.

Commission Decision 2005/360/EC of 26 April 2005 establishing ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for the award of the Community eco-label to lubricants^f9 expires on 31 July 2010.

Commission Decision 2006/799/EC of 3 November 2006 establishing revised ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for the award of the Community eco-label to soil improvers^f10 expires on 3 November 2010.

Commission Decision 2007/64/EC of 15 December 2006 establishing revised ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for the award of the Community eco-label to growing media^f11 expires on 15 December 2010.

Commission Decision 2007/506/EC of 21 June 2007 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to soaps, shampoos and hair conditioners^f12 expires on 21 June 2010.

Commission Decision 2007/742/EC of 9 November 2007 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to electrically driven, gas driven or gas absorption heat pumps^f13 expires on 9 November 2010.

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.

Given the different stages of the revision process for those Decisions, it is appropriate to prolong the periods of validity of the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements which they set out. The period of validity for Decisions 2002/741/EC, 2003/200/EC, 2005/341/EC, 2005/343/EC, and 2002/747/EC should be prolonged until 31 December 2010. The period of validity for Decisions 2005/342/EC, 2005/344/EC and 2005/360/EC should be prolonged until 30 June 2011. The period of validity for Decisions 2006/799/EC, 2007/64/EC, 2007/506/EC and 2007/742/EC should be prolonged until 31 December 2011.

Decisions 2002/741/EC, 2002/747/EC, 2003/200/EC, 2005/341/EC, 2005/342/EC, 2005/343/EC, 2005/344/EC, 2005/360/EC, 2006/799/EC, 2007/64/EC, 2007/506/EC and 2007/742/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

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: