Standards & schemes
European Commission / national bodies
In brief
The EU Ecolabel (the "Flower") is the European Union's official multi-criteria environmental label, established by Regulation (EC) No 66/2010. It covers around 25 product groups — from textiles, paints and detergents to paper, electronics and tourist accommodation — with criteria set per product group by Commission Decision after consultation with the EU Ecolabelling Board. Criteria address the main life-cycle impacts of each product group and are revised on a validity cycle, so certificate holders must re-qualify when criteria tighten. Applications are assessed by national competent bodies, licence fees apply, and the label's legal footing within the EU gives it a standing private schemes lack. Because it is government-backed and criteria are public, the Flower is frequently cited in green public procurement rules. The label certifies the specific product against the current criteria for its group; it does not by itself attest to the whole product range or company, and claims expire with the criteria version.
Conditional relationships
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
Recognition & legal context
No reviewed law references are published.
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