Get documents about "Microsoft PowerPoint - Hungary_National_Implementation
Document Sample
e1
National Implementation of Eco-labelling
in Hungary
Ministry of Environment and Water
Ankara, 22-23 March 2007
Andrea NÁM
head of section
Slayt 1
e1 eurotek; 22.03.2007
Eco-labelling in Hungary
• Before accession to the EU
The Hungarian environmental label was
established by the Ministry of Environment and
Regional Development
• After accession to the EU
The national and the European systems are
operated in parallel
Objective of environmental-labelling in
Hungary
• Improvement of environmental awareness of
manufacturers, service providers and consumers
• Giving reliable information to consumers on the
environmental characteristics of a product or a
service
• Decreasing environmental load of consumption
National environmental-labelling
organisation
• The “Hungarian Eco-labelling Organisation” (HELO) was
established in 1994 by the Ministry of Environment and
Regional Development
• The system was set up by using the German Blue Angel
(1978) and the EU Eco-label scheme as examples
• Characteristics of the system : independent, neutral,
involves the interested parties and the definition of criteria
are set based on the life cycle analysis
• The objective of the Eco-labeling Organisation (HELO) is
to promote manufacturers and trade organisations in
producing and distributing environment-friendly products
and to inform the consumers about the environmental
characteristics of the products and services.
Legal background
• Decision of Hungarian Government No. 3325/1993. (3.
Sept. 1993.) – on setting up an “Environmentally Friendly”
product differentiation and certification system.
• Act LIII of 1995. on the General Rules of the Protection of
the Environment – creates the legal basis of the system
• Decree of Minister for Environment and Regional
Development No. 29/1997. (VIII. 29.) amended by the
decree of the Minister for Environment and Water No.
9/2004. (V.25) –regulates the operation of the system
Institutional background
Placement of the non profit organisation (HELO)
offices in Budapest, Hungary
Staffing
1 director
2 senior counsellors
2 administrative/financial
persons
experienced in the national scheme
Experts contracted by HELO
Income of HELO
• Yearly contribution from Ministry of Environment and
Water
• Fees payed by the users of the eco-labels
• Others
POSSIBLE PRODUCT GROUPS
in the National Scheme
• ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
with considerable environmental advantage
considering the whole life cycle
Excluded: food products, beverages, pharmaceuticals,
medical products for professionals
SELECTION OF PRODUCT GROUP
in the National Scheme
Proposal
by any Stakeholder
to HELO
Decision of the
Assessment Committee
Draft criteria
consulted with the Ministry
Decision of the
acceptance
Assessment Committee refusa
Publishing the criteria Modification l
by HELO by experts
Awarding the national Eco-label
in the National Scheme
Application to HELO
Assessment
Decision of the
Assessment Committee
acceptance refusal
Minister of Environment HELO
awards the label informs the applicant
HELO
contract with the applicant
publication of award
Applicant uses the label
pays annual fee
Involvement of stakeholders
• Assessment Committee of the National Scheme
with the representation of
competent ministries,
NGOs,
scientific, manufacturing, trading,
consumer and environmentalist
organisations,
Type of criteria in Hungary
• 51 criteria
Examples:
Fridges, construction materials, shopping bags, fire
extinguishers, paper products etc.
Usage of the national label
• Registered logo at the Hungarian Patent Office
• Logo can be used on the product, advertisements, leaflets
etc.
• Length of a contract for the use of the logo - until the
expiry of the product group criteria (max. 5 years)
• Contract can be extended/renewed if product group
criteria remain unchanged, if not, new application needed
Eco-labelling in Hungary
The Hungarian Eco-label -Chestnut oak tree
Fees
• The application fees are uniform for both labels
(approx. 600 Euro + VAT)
• The fee for using the eco-label is calculated
based on the annual sales of the labelled product
(For EU labels it is 0.15% of the annual sales, for
Hungarian labels it is 0.2% of the annual sales).
• 25% reduction for SMSs and applicants having
ISO 14001 and/or EMAS (cumulative)
The Flower,
the eco-label of the EU
European eco-labels
EU Flower Nordic Swan Austria France
Germany Netherlands Spain Sweden
Central and Eastern Europe
Croatia Poland Czech Republic
Slovakia Latvia
Compatibility of national and EU criteria
• Since accession only those criteria are elaborated
for which no EU criteria are available
• If criteria already existed those were harmonised
on a case by case basis
• If a product complies with the EU scheme the
national label can also be awarded on request
Compatibility of national and EU criteria (2)
• The two systems are operated in parallel
• The national eco-labelling system is more flexible,
can take into consideration national
characteristics and priorities
• The elaboration of national criteria are quicker
• The steps to be followed when awarding the label
are similar
Number of Award Criteria and
Awarded Contracts in the EU eco-
Label scheme
350 336 1997
300 279 1998
1999
250 217 2000
200 2001
163
150 2002
124
91 2003
100
2004
50 25 253036
50
6 121717 19212224
17 2005
0 2006
Number of Award Criteria and Awarded
Contracts
in the Hungarian National Scheme
120 1994
106
1995
97
100 1996
80 82 1997
80 1998
68
63 1999
60 49 51 54 2000
4245 2001
36 36
40 3333 2002
2832 27 31
24 2003
17
20 10 15 2004
5 5 2005
1
0 2006
Awarded Eco-labels by Company
Nordic Swan > 1200 companies
(Sweden 681, Denmark 294)
Germany > 700
EU Flower > 350
Netherlands > 180
France > 90
Czech Republic > 73
Austria > 59
Hungary > 18
Experiences concerning textiles and
tourism
• Bed mattresses – national eco-label
• Hotel – EU eco-label
Competitor of the label is the award of the tourist
association
Operation of the EU eco-labelling
system (1)
• Designation of the Competent Body (gov. Decree
in 2003) :
CB is the Ministry of Environment and Water
with the involvement
of the Hungarian Eco-labelling Organisation
and
the Assessment Committee
Operation of the EU eco-labelling
system (2)
Responsibilities of HELO
• Information of stakeholders and public
• Managing the assessment procedure
• Participating in European Union Eco-Labelling
Board (EUEB)
Operation of the EU eco-labelling
system (3)
Responsibilities of the Ministry of Environment and
Water
• Providing legal, strategic and financial conditions
• Decision on awarding the label
• Participation in EUEB
• Voting in the Regulatory Committee
Assessment procedure
• Accepting applications and fees (HELO)
• Assessing of product (HELO)
• Consultation with relevant competent bodies
(HELO)
• Proposal to awarding the label (HELO)
• Decision on awarding the label (Ministry)
• Contracting (HELO)
• Announcement to EU and public (HELO)
• Monitoring compliance (HELO)
Fees in details
• Application fee 150 000 HUF (~600 Euro)
reductions: for SMS-s 25 %
for developing countries 25 %
• Annual fee 0.15 %
min. 120 000, max. 6.5 mill. HUF
reductions: for SMS-s 25 %
for developing countries 25 %
for EMAS or ISO 14001 15 %
cumulative, max. 50 %
Advantages of the eco-label holders
• Cost efficient production – less energy, water, raw
materials used, less waste generated
• Might generate more income
• Less advertising costs
• Advantages provided by law (e.g.. tax and charge
reductions, public procurement)
Risks
• Lack of interest (no subsidies)
• Low public awareness (few labelled products on
the market)
• Competition with misleading labels
• Misleading approach (expensive, label on one
product downgrades the other products of a
company, EMS is enough)
Homepages
• www. okocimke.kvvm.hu
• www.környezetbarat-termek.hu
Thank you!
