The promotion of a clean product policy, considered among the objectives of the European Union's environmental policy from the Fourth Action Programme of the European Communities on the Environment (1987-1992) led the Council of the European Community to adopt Regulation (EEC) No 880/1992 of 23 March 1992 on a Community system for the award of an eco-label. The aim of this system is to prevent, reduce and, as far as possible, eliminate pollution, mainly at source, in order to promote the use of products having a reduced impact on the environment. In addition to the environmental impact of the products, the environment will provide consumers with better information on the environmental impact of the products.

The Community eco-label will be awarded by bodies designated by the Member States, to which the Regulation entrusts, in addition to the function of the award of labels, the power to request the Commission from the European Community opening the procedure for the determination of the categories of products to which the eco-label may be awarded, as well as the specific ecological criteria for each category and their respective periods of validity.

According to the constitutional framework for the distribution of competences in environmental matters, it is up to the Autonomous Communities to designate the competent bodies. However, in order to facilitate the access of all manufacturers and producers to the award of the eco-label, this Royal Decree also provides for subsidiary competence of the State for the designation of a competent body, and empowers the Secretary of State for the Environment and Housing to propose to the Spanish representatives in the Committee set up by the Community Regulation.

The obligation of the competent bodies to communicate to the Secretary of State for the Environment and Housing the products to which the Community eco-label is awarded for the purpose of obtaining a complete information on all products to which the above label has been awarded at national level, as well as the product categories and the specific ecological criteria for each of the categories, for which the product is The Commission has asked the Commission to adopt the measures provided for in Article 7 of the Regulation.

Finally, the Environment Advisory Council, an eco-label working group, is set up with the task of advising the General Administration of the State and the Autonomous Administrations, when they are responsible. (i) request, in the field of eco-labelling, to study the categories of products for which the award of the eco-label and the environmental criteria applicable to each of the products should be proposed to the Commission of the European Community; where the proposal is submitted to it.

In its virtue, consulted the Autonomous Communities, on the proposal of the Ministers of Public Works, Transport and Environment; of Industry and Energy, and of Health and Consumption, with the approval of the Minister for the Administrations Public and after deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 8 April 1994,

D I S P O N G O:

Article 1.

1. The bodies responsible for awarding the eco-label in Spain and carrying out the other tasks assigned to them by Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/1992 of 23 March 1992 shall be designated by the Autonomous Communities in whose territory have those at least one centre which has the personal and material resources to be able to carry out the tasks of its own activity.

The General Administration of the State, through the Secretary of State for the Environment and Housing, may appoint a subsidiary of a competent body for the award of the Ecolabel.

2. The appointment granted shall be withdrawn, after hearing by the body itself, where the body fails to comply with the conditions for its designation or the duties or obligations conferred on it by the Community Regulation.

Article 2.

The Autonomous Communities which appoint a competent body shall notify the Secretariat of State of the Environment and Housing for the purposes of their subsequent communication to the European Commission.

Article 3.

The competent bodies shall communicate to the Secretary of State for the Environment and Housing, through, where appropriate, the competent bodies of the Autonomous Communities, the products to which they have awarded the eco-label (a) the Community, as well as the categories of products and the specific ecological criteria for each of those categories for which the Commission has been asked to adopt the measures referred to in Article 7 of the Regulation (EEC) Number 880/1992.

Article 4.

The Secretary of State for the Environment and Housing shall propose to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Spanish representatives in the Committee referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/1992.

Article 5.

1. An ecological labelling work group, whose main function will be to advise the General Administration of the State and the Autonomous Administrations, when they request them, is created within the Environment Advisory Council. organic labelling.

The competent bodies may submit to the study of the working group the categories of products for which they consider the award of the eco-label to the Commission of the European Community, as well as the the ecological criteria applicable to each of them, without prejudice to the other consultations which the competent bodies may carry out in accordance with Article 5.2 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/1992.

2. The eco-label working group will be made up of the following members of the Environment Advisory Board:

(a) The representative of the Board of Governors of the Official Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Shipping.

b) Representatives of the most representative business associations.

c) The representatives of consumer and user organizations.

d) Representatives of the most representative trade union organizations at the state level.

e) The representatives of the scientific community.

f) Two representatives of the national environmental associations with the largest number of partners or affiliates.

Also, a representative will be called to the meetings of the working group:

(a) For each of the Autonomous Communities.

(b) For each competent authority to award the eco-label.

c) The Ministries of Industry and Energy; Health and Consumer Affairs, and Trade and Tourism.

3. The eco-label working group will be chaired by the Director-General for Environmental Policy.

Single end disposition.

This Royal Decree will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the State.

Given in Madrid to April 8, 1994.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The Minister of the Presidency,

ALFREDO PEREZ RUBALCABA