Latest Products News
Commission mulls new green product regime
12 Jan 2012The EU could replace some of its existing green product initiatives with a more rigorous system involving a standardised approach to footprinting, financial incentives and third-party verification, the European Commission has suggested in a new consultation.
Companies request new RoHS exemptions
24 Jan 2012Companies have submitted nearly 20 requests for new exemptions under the RoHS directive on toxic substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Most requests involve the use of lead or cadmium in medical devices and monitoring instruments.
NewsMEPs sign off new biocide approval rules
19 Jan 2012A new regulation setting out rules to minimise the environment and health risks of biocides is set to apply in all member states from 1 September 2013 after being rubber-stamped by the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday.
NewsStakeholder group to revise ecolabel rules
17 Jan 2012Revision of criteria used to award EU ecolabels will be led for the first time by a group of stakeholders. The consortium, which will focus on lamps, includes manufacturers and NGOs. Its work will also be used to update EU rules on green public procurement.
NewsCommission identifies next ecodesign targets
5 Jan 2012Windows, steam boilers and computer servers should be prioritised during the next round of EU ecodesign proposals, according to a draft work plan released by the European Commission last month. The final list will be approved in the spring.
NewsLeap in ecodesign rules predicted for 2012
20 Dec 2011Next year could be a "vintage year" for the EU's ecodesign regime, according to Stephane Arditi, a policy officer at green group EEB. This would be a step up from 2011, which has seen standards agreed for only two product groups.
AnalysisFinding a common EU approach on SCP
23 May 2011Retailers are increasingly taking measures to reduce the impacts of their products but despite initiatives such as the Retail Forum there are few shared goals and joint approaches to give their actions more clout. Roz Bulleid reports
Best of the web
More products news, picked by ENDS Europe
7 Feb 2012
- MEP urges new ecolabelling standards for fisheries Press release
30 Jan 2012
27 Jan 2012
- New EU GPP criteria issued for lights and others revised DG Environment
15 Dec 2011
18 Nov 2011
- Nordic ministers recommend ecodesign expansion Press release
16 Nov 2011
- EU extends ecolabel criteria for six product groups Official Journal
- Green thinktank questions value of sustainability labels Press release
4 Nov 2011
28 Oct 2011
- Revised EC handbook for green public procurement DG Environment
17 Oct 2011
- Plastics additive ‘unlikely to cause concerns' FoodProductionDaily.com
14 Oct 2011
- UK clean tech confidence creeps back - E&Y survey BusinessGreen
12 Oct 2011
23 Sep 2011
22 Sep 2011
- Lithium battery industry growing in China Resource Investing News
16 Sep 2011
- Commission survey on GPP uptake DG Environment
9 Sep 2011
1 Sep 2011
- Ecodesign regulations end sale of 60W bulbs Wall Street Journal
1 Aug 2011
21 Jul 2011
20 Jul 2011
- Study shows carbon benefits of cloud computing Carbon Disclosure Project
Danish presidency programme
Denmark took over the presidency of the EU on 1 January.
Read ENDS article on its provisional agenda of meetings
See also its website and full programme of work officially presented on 6 January
