• Textiles

• Cosmetics

• Dangerous Substances

• Explosive Atmosphere

• Electrical & Electronic Equipment

• Household Appliances          

• Pricing

• Footwear

• Units of Measurement

• Automotive

• Tire labeling

• Maritime

• Materials in Contact with Food

• Noise Emissions

• Wood packaging

• Energy Efficiency

• Recycling - Separate Collection

Voluntary Marks and Labels
 

• Cup/Fork Symbol (material in contact with food)

• Eco-Label                                                    

• Green Dot

• Energy Star

• ‘e’ Mark

Recycling Marks
Voluntary and mandatory marks and labels apply to all Member States of the EU, countries in the European Economic Area, European Free Trade Association, as well as candidate countries seeking membership to the EU.

MANDATORY MARKS AND LABELS
 
CE MARKING
 
This is probably the most widely used and recognized marking required by the EU.  Found in all “New Approach” legislation with a few exceptions, the CE marking demonstrates that a product meets all essential requirements (typically related to safety, health, energy efficiency and/or environmental concerns).   CE marking is required for the following products/product families: 

For each “New Approach” law there is a separate list of references to harmonized European standards, the use of which provides the manufacturer with the ‘presumption of conformity’ with essential requirements.  While other non-EU standards may be used to demonstrate a product’s compliance with the applicable directive(s), the manufacturer will have to provide detailed information regarding the compliance process.  An array of standardized safety warning symbols/pictograms may also be applicable to each of the above product categories.

In 2008, the EU adopted a package of measures known as the New Legislative Framework (NLF) which provides a regulatory ‘toolbox’ for new and revised EU product safety legislation. The framework is designed to improve market surveillance, more clearly define the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and distributors, and clarify the meaning of CE marking across a wide-range of product groups.  In February 2014, to align product harmonization legislation with the provisions of the NLF (most notably Decision 768/2008), the European Union adopted an "Alignment Package" consisting of eight revised CE marking directives. These newly aligned directives are in force since 2016. 

Note: The EU is currently finalizing new legislation that will impact CE marking for medical devices. Upon finalization of the new legislation in mid-2017, there will be a transition period with the new measures coming into force in 2020 for medical devices and 2022 for in-vitro medical devices.

 
For more information
European Commission on CE Marking
European Commission on Harmonised Standards
European Commission on New Legislative Framework
Revised CE Marking Laws Applicable in 2016 
 
THE WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT DIRECTIVE (WEEE)

• Particular precautions for use

• The batch number or product reference, for identification

• The product’s function

 
If it is impossible for practical reasons to print on the packaging all the conditions of use and particular warnings, an enclosed leaflet, label or tape has to be provided and the following symbol has to be on the packaging:



The Member States are to draw up procedures for providing the information set out above in the case of cosmetic products that have not been pre-packaged. The product function and list of ingredients also have to appear on the container or packaging. Member States may stipulate that the information on the label is provided in their national or official language(s).  
 
 
About the labeling of nanomaterials present in cosmetics:
 
The Cosmetics regulation indicates that from July 2013 “all ingredients present in the form of nanomaterials shall be clearly indicated in the list of ingredient” and that “the names of such ingredients shall be followed by the word ‘nano’ in brackets”.
 
For more information
Regulation 1223/2009
Market Research Report on “EU Cosmetics Legislation”
 
DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES
Regulation on the Classification, Labeling and Packaging of Chemicals


The labeling of dangerous substances must indicate the following:

• The name of the substance

• The origin of the substance (the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor)

• The danger symbol and an indication of danger involved in the use of the substance

• A reference to the special risks arising from such dangers.

The dimensions of the label must not be less than a standard A8 sheet (52 x 74mm), and each symbol must cover at least one-tenth of the label’s surface area.  Member States may require their national language(s) to be used in the labeling of dangerous substances.  Where the packaging is too small, the labeling may be affixed in some other manner.  The packaging of products considered dangerous which are neither explosive nor toxic may go unlabeled if the product contains such small quantities of dangerous substances that there is no danger to users.
 
Symbols must be employed if the substance can be defined as any one of the following (as shown above):  explosive, oxidizer, flammable, harmful, toxic irritant, corrosive, or harmful to environment.  Containers of hazardous substances should include, in addition to the appropriate symbols, a raised triangle to alert the vision-impaired to their contents. Note that this directive has undergone numerous amendments relating, amongst other things, to the marking and labeling of additional substances.  Accordingly, it is advisable to consult all literature.
 
Regulation 1272/2008 introduces new classification, labeling and packaging requirements for chemicals based on the Worldwide United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System (UN GHS). It will gradually replace the Dangerous Substances Directive (65/548/EEC) and the Dangerous Preparations Directive (1999/45/EC) – and repeal them respectively in December 2010 and June 2015.  
 
For more information
Regulation 1272/2008/EC
 
Legal Metrology and Metric Units of Measurement
 
This legislation specifies permissible ranges of nominal quantities, container capacities and the weights or volumes of prepackaged products.  Manufacturers are advised to take note that all labels require metric units, although dual labeling is also acceptable.
 
For more information
European Commission on Legal Metrology
 
PRICE DISPLAY
 
The directive requires an indication of the selling price, and price per unit of measurement, on all products offered to consumers. The aim is to improve the information available to the consumer and to facilitate price comparison. This information must be unambiguous, clearly legible and easily identifiable. If advertising mentions the item’s selling price, it must also indicate its unit price. For products sold in bulk, the unit price is the only item whose indication on the label is mandatory. National authorities may provide alternatives for products sold by small retail business operations.
 
For more information
Directive 98/6/EC
 
AUTOMOTIVE

Nearly every vehicle component must be certified for safety as specified under the various directives relating to automobiles.  The number shown in the rectangle on the label indicates the particular Member State in which the approval process was conducted.  A “base approval number” must also be provided adjacent to this certification.  This four-digit number will correspond to the directive and type of device in question.  The country-number correlation is as follows (this is not an exhaustive list): 
 

 
For more information:
European Commission Automotive Industry Legislation 
 
Photometry


A similar marking is an ‘E’ surrounded by a circle, which applies to the testing of headlight lamps, brake light lamps and turning signal lamps of all vehicles seeking EU market entry. These include consumer vehicles, low-volume production trucks, light and heavy goods vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, cranes, agriculture and forestry tractors, and special-purpose and off-road vehicles.
 
For more information:
European Commission Automotive Industry Legislation
 
TIRE LABELING


Tire label legislation requires that tire manufacturers declare fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise performance of C1, C2 and C3 tires (i.e. tires mainly fitted on passenger cars, light and heavy duty vehicles).
 
The objective of the regulation is better information for the consumer and a contribution to a more energy efficient transport policy.
 
For more information:
European Commission Energy Topics
Directive 1222/2009/EC
Directive 228/2011/EC
 
PACKAGING MATERIAL
 
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive harmonized member state legislation regarding packaging material composition and the management of packaging waste. Composition of packaging material is addressed in a series of EU-wide standards.   For the management of packaging waste through recycling targets and collection and recycling systems, member states have adopted voluntary marking mentioned in the following report.
 
For more information
Directive 94/62/EC
 
Wood Packaging

Like the United States, the EU has adopted legislation to ensure pest control in wood packaging.  The marking used for regulated materials is based on the International Plant Protection Convention compliance symbol shown above. 
 
For more information
European Commission on Wood Packaging and Dunnage
 
VOLUNTARY MARKS AND LABELS
 
 
MATERIALS IN CONTACT WITH FOOD

Manufacturers of containers, plates, cups, and other material that is intended to come into contact with food are required to check the compliance of their product with EU chemical safety requirements. Using the symbol shown above shows compliance with these requirements.  It is mandatory to comply with the legislation, but the use of the symbol is voluntary.
 
For more information
European Commission on Food Legislation
 
The e-MARK

The e-mark, shown above, acts as a metrological "passport" to facilitate the free movement of prepackaged goods.  It guarantees that certain liquids and other substances have been packed by weight or volume in accordance with the directives.  While compliance is not mandatory, free movement throughout the EU is guaranteed for prepackaged products that do comply with the provisions of the directive.
 
Containers with an e-mark also bear an indication of the weight or volume of the product, known as its “nominal” weight or volume. The packer (or importer, if the container is produced outside the EU) is responsible for ensuring that the containers meet the directive’s requirements.
 
For more information
European Commission on Pre-Packaging
 
THE ECO-LABEL

The European Eco-label enables European consumers, including public and private purchasers, to easily identify officially approved green products across the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.  Introduced in 1992, the label communicates to the customer that the marked products meet specific eco-friendly criteria that have been developed to apply to everyday consumer goods and services.
 
The symbol may apply to the following 27 product and services groups:
 

 
 
Manufacturers should be aware that similar eco-friendly markings are often used nationally, such as the Nordic Swan or the German Blue Angel, shown below.

The Eco-label program has recently been expanded to cover fish and fishery products.  This means that eco-labeled products have been produced in accordance with specific environmental standards.
 
Private Eco labels have been developed by the seafood industry to “influence the purchasing decision of consumers and the procurement policies of retailers selling seafood products, in order to reward producers involved in responsible fishing and aquaculture practices leading towards sustainable use of natural resources.”
 
There are multiple eco-label schemes, and logos, developed by a variety of operators and according to different characteristics. This confusing situation has led to a need for harmonization and coherence. In response, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has developed a “Guideline for the Eco-Labeling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries.”
 
The U.S. government has decided not to engage in the development of such marketing tool. Instead, NOAA Fisheries has developed a comprehensive website where stakeholders, including consumers, can find facts about a specific species of fish and related fisheries. Consumers can then make their own purchasing choice.
 
The European Commission is currently preparing, at the request of the European Parliament and the Council, a feasibility report on options for a Union-wide eco-label scheme for fishery and aquaculture products. Some EU Member States have already created their own National eco label.
 
For more information
European Eco-label website
European Commission Consultation for EU Ecolabel for fishery and aquaculture products
  
RECYCLING


The “mobius loop” (sometimes known as the “chasing arrows”), based on an international standard, may be found on products throughout Europe and is meant to help consumers identify and participate in recycling schemes for product packaging and materials.  As well as being used on printed packaging, the chasing arrows symbol is sometimes featured in the molds of glass, metal, paper, or plastic products. Various kinds of loops indicate whether the product is recyclable, recycled or contains recycled material.
 
For more information
European Commission on Waste
 
Plastics

 
The symbol above is an example of how a plastic’s type may be indicated on a product. As part of the EU voluntary identification system for plastics, the following marks are used for the most common types of plastics (Decision 97/129/EC):
 

 
Glass

There are no EU-wide symbols used to designate the recyclable nature of glass.  However, it is certainly encouraged on the national level with an array of symbols.  The two shown above are only a small sample of the total existing to show recyclability. 
 
GREEN DOT

The Green Dot system is a scheme in which participating bodies coordinate the collection, sorting and recovery of used packaging.  This system is actually administered according to national packaging laws (adhered to by packaging manufacturers, fillers, retailers and importers), and it should be noted that all participating national systems operate independently. The umbrella organization, PRO-Europe, is responsible for managing the Green Dot labeling system in Europe.  More than 460 billion pieces of packaging marked with the Green Dot, shown above, are distributed worldwide. Interested applicants should contact one of the national administering authorities. 
 
For more information:
Pro Europe