The EUEB and the other labels in the Member States should review and catalogue all product groups covered by eco-labels in the EU and candidate countries (and eventually in other countries) and set in place a mechanism for establishing and updating a central register of these product groups and their criteria.

encouraging more environmentally responsible farming, including, where appropriate, extensive production methods, integrated farming practices, organic farming and agro-biodiversity, in future reviews of the Common Agricultural Policy, taking account of the need for a balanced approach to the multifunctional role of rural communities;

(1) On the basis of principles enshrined in Article 174 of the Treaty, the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development (the Fifth Environment Action Programme) (4), supplemented by Decision No 2179/98/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (5) on its review, envisages in particular amendments to legislation on air pollutants.

The prior investigations referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall include examination of the hydrogeological conditions of the area concerned, the possible purifying powers of the soil and subsoil and the risk of pollution and alteration of the quality of the ground-water from the discharge and shall establish whether the discharge of substances into groundwater is a satisfactory solution from the point of view of the environment.

The documentation to be examined in advance of the visit shall include basic information about the organisation and activities there, the environmental policy and programme, the description of the environmental management system in operation in the organisation, details of the environmental review or audit carried out, the report on that review or audit and on any corrective action taken afterwards, and the draft environmental statement.

promoting a green public procurement policy, allowing environmental characteristics to be taken into account and the possible integration of environmental life cycle, including the production phase, concerns in the procurement procedures while respecting Community competition rules and the internal market, with guidelines on best practice and starting a review of green procurement in Community Institutions;

Commission Decision of 16 April 1997 on the recognition of the international standard ISO 14001:1996 and the European standard EN ISO 14001:1996, establishing specification for environmental management systems, in accordance with Article 12 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 of 29 June 1993, allowing voluntary participation by companies in the industrial sector in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (Text with EEA relevance)

(f) any summary of risk assessments or environmental reviews of GMOs generated by the Community's regulatory process and carried out in accordance with Article 15 of the Protocol, including, where appropriate, relevant information regarding products thereof, namely, processed materials that are of GMO origin, containing detectable novel combinations of replicable genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, in accordance with Article 20(3)(c) of the Protocol;

summaries of its risk assessments or environmental reviews of living modified organisms generated by its regulatory process, and carried out in accordance with Article 15, including, where appropriate, relevant information regarding products thereof, namely, processed materials that are of living modified organism origin, containing detectable novel combinations of replicable genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology;

It is stressed that the lists in Appendix 2 are non-exhaustive, as laid down in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000. At any time, the Commission may give a mandate to the EUEB to develop and periodically review the ecological criteria, as well as the assessment and verification requirements, for a product group that is not listed in Appendix 2. These lists may also be updated during the period of validity of this working plan (in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000), and new product groups may be added.

(d) any summary of risk assessments or environmental review of GMOs generated by the Community regulatory process and carried out in accordance with procedures similar to those laid down in Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC, including, where appropriate, relevant information regarding products thereof, namely, processed materials that are of GMO origin, containing detectable novel combinations of replicable genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, in accordance with Article 20(3)(c) of the Protocol;

(8) The report on iprodione and further information were also submitted to the Scientific Committee on Plants for separate consultation. The Scientific Committee was asked to comment on the predicted environmental concentrations in soil and groundwater, and on the acceptable operator exposure level proposed by the rapporteur. In its opinion, the Committee agreed that sufficient information was available to reliably estimate the leaching behaviour of the substance for soils with pH above 6. However, the assessment of leaching in soils with pH below 6 deser ves further attention, since, for soils with pH below 6, leaching at concentration levels exceeding 0,1 μg/l may occur in some realistic vulnerable situations. The Committee saw no need to use an additional safety factor for the derivation of the acceptabl e operator exposure level. The observations of the Scientific Committee were taken into account in this Directive and the review report.

"environmental review" shall mean an initial comprehensive analysis of the environmental issues, impact and performance related to activities of an organisation,

checks on compliance with the relevant environmental requirements;

continue to examine environmental standards for each transport mode;

This level shall be kept under regular review in the light of data on environmental contamination.

Following the review of Commission Decision 2000/45/EC(2), it is appropriate to prolong the period of validity of those ecological criteria for a period of three years.

In its own interest an organisation should inform the public in a transparentand understandable manner on the environmental performance of a specific site.

The first review of the working plan shall include a report on how the plans for coordination and cooperation between the Community system and the national environmental labelling systems have been implemented.

the establishment of less stringent environmental objectives, and the reasons for it, are specifically mentioned in the river basin management plan required under Article 13 and those objectives are reviewed every six years.

They shall also include a review of the limitations of the scope of this Directive as defined in Article 2 and an evaluation of the extent to which further emission reductions might be necessary in order to meet the interim environmental objectives set out in Article 5.

promote the transparent assessment at an early stage and prior to decision, and subsequent monitoring, of environmental impacts of environmentally significant energy investment projects;

(If available, indicate appropriate statistics, for example using a template given in a guidance document for reporting under the recommendation providing for minimum criteria for environmental inspections in the Member States.)

Whereas the international standard ISO 14001:1996 and the European standard EN ISO 14001:1996 are identical and include specification for environmental management systems and audit corresponding to certain requirements of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93;

Whereas the accredited environmental verifier will continue to check compliance with those elements of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 which are not covered explicitly in the international standard ISO 14001:1996 and the European standard EN ISO 14001:1996, in particular at the document review stage, the accredited environmental verifier should confirm that the elements of Article 3 and Annex I, not mentioned in the Annex of this Decision, are covered;

This is to ensure that an audit programme is developed which provides management with the information it needs to review the organisation's environmental performance and the effectiveness of the environmental management system, and be able to demonstrate that they are in control.

If the Commission does agree, its agreement will be periodically reviewed in the light of the results of the monitoring carried out pursuant to this Directive and in the light of any significant change in the manufacturing processes or in environmental policy objectives.

Whereas proposals for the revision of the emission limit values and related provisions of this Directive should be submitted to the Council before 31 December 2000 in the light of the expected development of the state of technology, of experience in the operation of incineration plants and of environmental requirements,

It is appropriate to revise the ecological criteria that were established by Commission Decision 98/634/EC of 2 October 1998 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to bed mattresses(2) in order to reflect the developments in the market.

"environmental management system" shall mean the part of the overall management system that includes the organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy;

Towards sustainability - A European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development(5), supplemented by Council Decision No 2179/98/EC(6) on its review, affirms the importance of assessing the likely environmental effects of plans and programmes.

Following the review, it is considered appropriate to prolong the period of validity of the definition of the product group and the ecological criteria, unchanged, for a period of eighteen months, in particular to allow those companies that have been awarded the eco-label to continue using the eco-label at least until the revision of Decision 1999/476/EC is completed.

On the basis of principles enshrined in Article 174 of the Treaty, the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development (the Fifth Environment Action Programme)(4), supplemented by Decision No 2179/98/EC of the European Parliament and the Council(5) on its review, envisages in particular amendments to legislation on air pollutants.

The prior investigations referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall include examination of the hydrogeological conditions of the area concerned, the possible purifying powers of the soil and subsoil and the risk of pollution and alteration of the quality of the groundwater from the discharge and shall establish whether the discharge of substances into groundwater is a satisfactory solution from the point of view of the environment.

The group examined the options for amending the limits for the emission tests prescribed in Directive 96/96/EC and in Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Community(3) to determine whether improved environmental benefits could be realised.

Following the review of that Decision in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000, it is appropriate to prolong the period of validity of those ecological criteria for a period of 12 months, in particular to allow those companies that have been awarded the eco-label to continue using the eco-label at least until the revision of Decision 2000/40/EC is completed.

In order to contribute to more transparent decision making and with the aim of ensuring that the information supplied for the assessment is comprehensive and reliable, it is necessary to provide that authorities with relevant environmental responsibilities and the public are to be consulted during the assessment of plans and programmes, and that appropriate time frames are set, allowing sufficient time for consultations, including the expression of opinion.

the application of this Directive to environmental damage caused by genetically modified organisms (GMOs), particularly in the light of experience gained within relevant international fora and Conventions, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as well as the results of any incidents of environmental damage caused by GMOs;

Before 31 December 2000, and notably in the light of the expected development of the state of technology, of experience in the operation of the plants, and of environmental requirements, the Commission shall submit to the Council a report, based on experience of the application of the Directive and on the progress achieved in emission control techniques, accompanied by proposals for revision of the emission limit values and related provisions referred to in this Directive.

Furthermore, Decision No 2179/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 on the review of the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development "Towards sustainability"(5) indicated as a key priority for the integration of environmental requirements in relation to energy the provision of energy efficiency labelling of appliances.

COMMISSION DECISION of 16 April 1997 on the recognition of the international standard ISO 14001:1996 and the European standard EN ISO 14001:1996, establishing specification for environmental management systems, in accordance with Article 12 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 of 29 June 1993, allowing voluntary participation by companies in the industrial sector in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (Text with EEA relevance)

Whereas Article 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 establishes that companies implementing national, European or international standards for environmental management systems and audits and certified, according to appropriate certification procedures, as complying with those standards shall be considered as meeting the corresponding requirements of Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93, provided that, in particular, the standards and procedures are recognized by the Commission acting in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 19 of the same Regulation;

any summary of risk assessments or environmental reviews of GMOs generated by the Community's regulatory process and carried out in accordance with Article 15 of the Protocol, including, where appropriate, relevant information regarding products thereof, namely, processed materials that are of GMO origin, containing detectable novel combinations of replicable genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, in accordance with Article 20(3)(c) of the Protocol;

any summary of risk assessments or environmental review of GMOs generated by the Community regulatory process and carried out in accordance with procedures similar to those laid down in Annex II to Directive 2001/18/EC, including, where appropriate, relevant information regarding products thereof, namely, processed materials that are of GMO origin, containing detectable novel combinations of replicable genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology, in accordance with Article 20(3)(c) of the Protocol;

On the 'Kleines Deutsches Eck' the Commission shall, before 1 October 1996 and after consultation, notably with Austria and Germany, review the necessity and efficiency of this regime with a view to establishing a non-discriminatory system based on environmental criteria and electronic controls to be applied as from 1 January 1997 to heavy goods vehicles as defined in Article 1 (d) of Protocol No 9 to the Act of Accession for Austria and which shall not exceed the restrictions applying to the transit of heavy goods vehicles across Austrian territory.

Decision No 2179/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 on the review of the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development, "Towards sustainability"(7) sets, among the priority objectives of the Community, the development of programmes for the further promotion of environmental awareness on the part of industry, including, in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and giving priority to the problems of SMEs as regards technical and financial obstacles to the development and use of clean technology in relation to the environment.

Provision should be made for a review of the provisions in Directive 98/70/EC in order to take account of new Community air quality legislation and related environmental objectives, such as the need to encourage alternative fuels, including biofuels, the development of new pollution abatement technologies and the impact of metallic additives and other relevant issues on their performance and to confirm, or otherwise, the date for full introduction of diesel fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 10 mg/kg in order to ensure that there is no overall increase in emissions of greenhouse gases.