New EU ecolabel for all-purpose cleaners

The EU has approved a set of criteria for granting its flower ecolabel to all-purpose detergents and detergents for cleaning sanitary facilities. The criteria were officially adopted by the European Commission this week after a member state committee unanimously approved them in April. Among product requirements for manufacturers wanting to use the label are maximum phosphorus content not exceeding 0.2 grams per litre of diluted detergent and bans on ingredients such as EDTA and alkylphenolethoxylates. See EU ecolabel pages.