Using the EU Ecolabel
Change in a product or service – what to do?
When using the EU Ecolabel, it must be taken into account that changes made to a product or service, as well as criteria updated at EU level, may affect the validity of the label. It is the company's responsibility to notify the Environment Agency of any changes that may affect the conformity of the product or service, and to monitor when the criteria are updated and whether the product also meets the new requirements.
Important to know concerning this step
If changes are made to a product or service that may affect its compliance with the EU Ecolabel criteria, such as a change in composition, packaging, raw material, manufacturer or supplier, the Environmental Agency must be notified immediately and a new amendment application must be submitted with the necessary documents. By variation, the competent authority shall assess the continued compliance of the product with the criteria.
Additional information on notifying of changes and submitting documents is available in the Environmental Portal in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
The validity period of the criteria depends on the product group, but generally the criteria are reviewed every 3-5 years. The European Commission will then decide whether to extend or update the criteria.
If the EU Ecolabel regulations or the criteria for a specific product group are updated, the Environmental Agency will notify the companies that hold or apply for the labels of the changes. After the entry into force of the new criteria, a company generally has at least 6 months (the European Commission will determine the transition period with the new criteria) to bring its product or service into compliance with the updated requirements and provide the necessary evidence.
References
Contacts
In case of any questions or to get advice, please contact the Estonian Environmental Agency. The Environmental Agency acts as the competent authority for the EU Ecolabel in Estonia.