EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL
ENVIRONMENT
Directorate A - Green Economy
ENV.A.1 - Eco-lnnovation & Circular Economy
Head of Unit
Brussels,
27
MAI
ENV AÍ/JK (2016)^ lûAo
Mr Søren Bukh Svenningsen
Head of Division
Environmental Technology,
Danish Environmental
Protection Agency,
Ministry of Environment and
Food of Denmark
29 Strandgade,
1401 Copenhagen, Denmark
Subject:
Commission Decision (EU) 2016/397 amending Decision 2014/312/EU
establishing EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor and outdoor paints and
varnishes regarding the use of Adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) and 3-
iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC) in EU Ecolabel products
Dear Mr Søren Bukh Svenningsen,
Thank you very much for your recent letter with regards the EU Ecolabel criteria for
indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes and the recent amendment made through
Commission Decision 2016/397 of 16 March 2016.
The Commission considers it to be important to avoid changes to the criteria in between
planned revisions so as to ensure legal certainty for the license holders. Moreover, I
would like to highlight that the decision to continue allowing the use of Adipic acid
dihydrazide (ADH) and 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC) was made on the basis
of the evidence gathered by JRC/IPTS via a consultation of stakeholders. The two
substances you refer to in your letter, can also only be included in EU Ecolabel products
for a limited number of uses and under strict conditions. This use is only for providing
specific functions and for limited types of paints, where safer and more environmental
friendly substitutes are not available.
On the occasion of the next revision of the EU Ecolabel criteria of this product group, we
will review how the market has developed and thoroughly investigate if safer and more
environmental friendly alternatives to these two substances are available. This
investigation shall certainly include the consideration of avoiding the use of hazardous
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIë - Tel. +32 22991111