ECOLABEL USER MANUAL
Contents
1. contributes to reducing soil and water pollution promotes the recycling of materials contributes to enhanced soil fertility For more information visit the European Eco label website http ec europa eu ecolabel A sample of packaging and or factsheet provided with the product has been added to the application dossier Company stamp or seal 27 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media ANNEX I Commission Decision 2007 64 EC establishing ecological criteria for the award ofthe community eco label to Growing Media GM 282. 2 Is the company situated in a developing country for definition please contact the Competent Body If so please provide proof of status 3 Is the company registered under EMAS or certified under ISO 14001 and has the company in its environmental policy promised to keep the product group criterion in the standard contracts period of validity and is this promise established in the companies environmental objective 12 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 2 Ingredients Ingredients criterion 1 1 A product shall only be considered for the award of the European Eco label if it does not contain peat and its organic matter content is derived from the processing and or re use of waste as defined in Council Directive 75 442 EEC on waste and in Annex I to the said Directive Processing is for example biological treatment like composting and anaerobic digestion Re use of waste materials is for example the use of organic waste from primary manufactures which can be employed as Soil Improver or as an ingredient in such products due to its physio chemical characteristics Examples of such are bark remaining from timber mechanical manufacturing rice hulls coconut fibre and residuals from the food industry such as specified under criterion 1 2 see paragraph 2 4 3 Minerals can be applied as well provided the applied material meets criterion 1 3 see paragraph 2 4 4 4 OJ L 194 2
3. Measured values resis No 25 g f w Salmonella TOE MPN g E coli the compost component in our product is NOT exclusively derived from green garden or park waste and that Salmonella and Helminth Ova are absent Measured values TEE No 25 g f w Salmonella sidani No 1 5 g Helminth Ova In case of a compost component we add an analytical report s specifying testing method and results to the application dossier Company stamp or seal 22 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 8 Viable seeds and propagules Viable seeds and propagules criterion 5 In the final product the content of weed seeds and the vegetative reproductive parts of aggressive weeds shall not exceed two units per litre The criterion covers all viable seeds and propagules of undesired plant species found in end products Test methods an overview and evaluation of standard test methods including a draft horizontal standard has been compiled as part of Project Horizontal Ref Baumgarten A and Dersch G Contamination with Viable Weed Seeds and Plant Propagules Horizontal 8 Agency for Health and Food Safety Vienna Austria April 2004 the report can be downloaded from http www ecn nl horizontal downloads finaldeskstudies See also paragraph 2 3 Declaration viable seeds and propagules criterion 5 A declaration must be completed by the applicant I We as the authorized signato
4. 2 4 3 Sludges Sludges criterion 1 2 Products shall not contain sewage sludge Non sewage sludges are allowed only if they meet the following criteria Sludges are identified as one of the following wastes according the European list of wastes as defined by Commission Decision 2001 118 EC amending Decision 2000 532 EC 02 03 05 02 04 03 02 05 02 02 06 03 02 07 OS Sludges are single source separated meaning that there has been no mixing with effluents or sludges outside the specific production process Single source sludges from a number of sources may be applied Maximum concentrations of heavy metals in the waste before treatment mg kg dry weight meet the requirements of criterion 2 A Declaration of conformity must be added for every single source sludge applied Sludges shall meet all other European Eco label criteria specified in section 2 4 in which case they are considered to be sufficiently stabilized and sanitized 6 OJ L 47 16 2 2001 p 1 15 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media Declaration sludges criterion 1 2 This declaration must be completed by the applicant the candidate product does not contain sludges sludges is given in the table below I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that the candidate product contains products derived from sludges A detailed specification of We declare that the s
5. The product group is generally open to all products both for the professional and hobby use The European Eco label may only be awarded to products that fall into the definition and successfully pass the corresponding criteria essentially aiming to promote the use of renewable materials and or re use of organic matter and to reduce risks from heavy metals and other hazardous substances 2 2 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS In this section terms and definitions recurring in the Decision and in the User Manual are reported The glossary is regarded to be useful for a uniform comprehension and in order to keep univocal interpretation on general principles materials test methods etc Air volume that part of the volume of a sample filled by air measured under standard suction conditions suction pressure 10 cm Ash The inorganic matter or mineral residue of total solids that remains when a sample of SI is combusted at 450 10 C in the presence of excess air The ash is equal to 100 of the dried sample minus the VS volatile solids in the dried sample Bark and composted bark residual materials from primary machining of wood used raw without performing any biological treatment or composted mainly used as a mulch mulching materials which applied to the surface of the soil reduce the loss of moisture control weed growth User Manual European Eco label Growing Media reduce the erosion and the evaporation The quality of composted barks dep
6. growing media only For all substantial professional markets i e where the applicant s annual sales in any one country in the professional market exceed 30 000 m3 the applicant shall fully inform the user about available options for the removal and processing of growing media after use This information shall be integrated in the accompanying fact sheets The applicant shall demonstrate that at least 50 by volume of the growing media waste generated in EU 25 is recycled after use The applicant informs the Competent Body in a annual recycling report about the option s on offer and the response to these options in particular adescription of collection processing and destinations At any time plastics should be separated from minerals organics and processed separately an annual overview of the volume of growing media collected input and processed by destination Declaration Mineral growing media after use criterion 6b A declaration must be completed by the applicant I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that We fully inform in all substantial professional markets i e where the our annual sales in any one country in the professional market exceed 30 000 m3 the user about available options for the removal and processing of growing media after use This information is integrated in the accompanying fact sheets We add an example to t
7. it is an indirect measure of Salinity Green waste compost compost produced from organic waste from agriculture forestry green wastes from the food processing industry non sluges and or landscaping Growing Media materials other than soil in situ in which plants are grown Growing Media constituent material which is suitable as an ingredient of growing media Heavy Metals elements whose specific gravity is approximately 5 or higher They include lead copper cadmium zinc mercury nickel arsenic chromium molybdenum fluorine and selenium High concentrations of one or more heavy metals in a soil may lead to toxic effects in plants and animals Household waste compost Product obtained by composting organic fraction of household solid waste food scraps and green waste obtained by separated source collection Maturity Maturity see also stability can be defined as the point at which the end product is stable and the process of rapid degradation is finished or a biodegraded product that can be used in horticultural situations without any adverse effects The term maturity can also be interpreted in a wide sense and also includes the term stability An attempt to define maturity could be that it is a measure of the compost s readiness for use that is related to the composting process This readiness depends upon several factors e g high degree of decomposition low levels of phytotoxic compounds like ammonia an
8. of those set by CEN In such a case the applicant should request approval for use from the Competent Body CB sufficiently in advance and provide a reasonable justification in writing underpinning the equivalence and comparability of such methods The Competent Body can ask for additional documentation if appropriate Where required testing is not covered by CEN standards or CEN standards in progress of approval other test methods are pointed out in this User Manual These methods are indicative by nature and as stated above may be substituted by other methods in use Analysis should be carried out by reliable laboratories that are preferably accredited for the performance of the required tests To facilitate work of Competent bodies and applicants an indicative but non exhaustive list of quality programmes quality labels and or related initiatives is given below Again request for approval for their use shall be addressed to the Competent Body sufficiently in advance accompanied by written justification quality system norm originating country AENOR Spain BECAS Belgium KIWA Netherlands legislation technical norms Czech Republic NFU 44 551 France RAL Germany RHP Netherlands 2 4 EXPLANATION OF CRITERIA AND APPLICATION FORMS Introduction This chapter reports the ecological criteria established by the specific Commission Decision 2007 64 EC to be fulfilled for the award Compliance with these criteria and the limi
9. services 2 At http ec europa eu ecolabel which is the European Commission s official website for the European Eco label you find all background information All key documents are available and you can easily download the texts 3 Participation in the scheme is voluntary It is administered by officially appointed Competent Bodies in each EU member state Competent Bodies are independent and have no vested interest You find a list of Competent Bodies at http ec europa eu environment ecolabel tools competentbodies en htm 4 Businesses whose products comply with the published product group definition and the criteria for the product can apply for the European Eco label The criteria for specific product groups are agreed by EU member states after consultation with relevant interests including other departments within the European Commission and European representatives of industry consumers environmental organizations retailers and public authorities User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 9 A manufacturer retailer or service provider who meets the criteria for a product group and who applies for the award of the European Eco label can market his eco labelled product in all Member States of the European Union The Flower is also recognised and present in those counties which are signatories to the EEA Agreement Norway Iceland and Liechtenstein So far criteria have been agreed for 24 product categories You find an a
10. wevtivesienscicatecdiweeianceveeanirs EEAO KEKA EE E E ANENE 9 2 4 EXPLANATION OF CRITERIA AND APPLICATION FORMS se 10 2 4 1 General information applicant and candidate product ssssssssssssrssssssrss 11 2 42 Ingredients ronemenerrnano eneee ir E T eE ieoi 13 243 SIUAQGS hnap aE E EEEE EEA 15 2 4 4 Minerals ecriiioniv nennen on E E RE ni EEE EEEE 17 2 4 5 Limitation of hazardous substances sssssssssssrrnrsssrrrrrnrssnrrrnnnnserrrnnn 18 2 4 6 Product performance ccecceccece eee eee ao a a E E a EREE 20 2 4 7 Health and Safety ssssssssssrrssssrssrrrrrnsnrrrnnnnnrrrnnnntnnnrrnnnnnnnnrnnnnnnnennnnn 21 2 4 8 Viable seeds ANd propaguleS ssssssssssssrrrrsserirrrnrsssrrrrnnnnsnrnrnnnnnernnnn 23 2 4 9 Electrical conductivity iriser icini niniin kar n a nan KANAD RAAI Enea 24 2 4 10 Mineral growing media after USC sssssssssssrrssrrrnrrrnsrrrnnrrnnnrrrnnrrnnsrnnns 25 2 4 11 Information provided with the product ssssssssssssssssssrrrnrssnrrrrnnssenrnnnn 26 ANNEX I Commission Decision 2007 64 EC 1 Downloadable also from http ec europa eu comm environment ecolabel producers pg _soilimprovers htm User Manual European Eco label Growing Media PURPOSE OF THIS USER MANUAL This manual consists of two parts The first one PART 1 includes the general information concerning the European Eco label The second PART 2 is intended to be a reference guide for applicants on how to ap
11. 5 7 1975 75 442 EEC texts downloadable in all Community languages from e g http europa eu int celex http europa eu int celex cgi sga_cnct celexext prod amp LANG EN amp BASE bas cen 13 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media Declaration ingredients criterion 1 1 This declaration must be completed by the applicant I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that the product does not contain peat and that its organic matter content is derived from the processing and or re use of waste as defined in Council Directive 75 442 EEC on waste gt Detailed composition of the candidate product all constituents gt 5 by volume is as follows INGREDIENTS please mark the applied materials VOLUME OR WEIGHT OF PRODUCT green waste compost household waste compost composted bark rice hulls coconut waste other i being other ii being sludge products to be specified in declaration sludges minerals to be specified in declaration minerals TOTAL wee Company stamp or seal 5 OJ L194 25 7 1975 75 442 EEC texts downloadable in all Community languages from e g http ec europa eu celex http ec europa eu celex cqgi sga_cnct celexext prod amp LANG EN amp BASE bas cen 14 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media
12. User Manual European Eco label Growing Media EUROPEAN ECO LABEL USER MANUAL x amp FOR GROWING MEDIA User Manual European Eco label Growing Media This Manual is compiled by SMK Eisenhowerlaan 150 P O Box 17186 2502 CD The Hague The Netherlands Tel 31 70 3 586 300 Fax 31 70 3 502 517 E mail milieukeur milieukeur nl www smk nl In cooperation with SV amp A sustainability consultants Rijnsburgerweg 159 P O Box 11133 2301 EC LEIDEN The Netherlands Tel 31 715191005 Fax 31 71 517 58 35 E mail svena svena nl www svena nl May 2006 For further information 1 each of the Competent Bodies http ec europa eu environment ecolabel tools competentbodies en htm 2 the secretariat of the EUEB if appropriate DG ENV D 3 Avenue de Beaulieu 9 B 1160 Bruxelles tel 322 29 68075 58924 fax 32229 55684 http ec europa eu ecolabel User Manual European Eco label Growing Media INDEX PURPOSE OF THIS USER MANUAL 1 cc ccc ccc cc eee nnn nn nnn n EAD E EEE E ERED EERE DE ERED E EEE EES 4 PART 1 General Information concerning the European Eco label ccceeeeeeeee eee eee eeeeeees 4 PART 2 WSeriMantlaliz 2acceencaccctavsuneaiepnnatatatiaavetarsshia fivescus dev enaae cea aise tan eseae ten enawetey aan 7 2 1 INTRODUCTION errin seins ate sweecae eth etead stented a a pinata ea 7 2 2 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS cccccccce cece eee eee ene eee eee n eee nee Een 7 2 3 TEST METHODS
13. ary documentation from the license holder in order to monitor the compliance with the product s criteria and the terms of use set out in the contract The Competent Body can also visit the applicant s premises without prior notice 12 The following table gives the indicative fees to be charged by Competent Bodies according to the Decision Reductions 1 Application fee covers the costs of 25 for SMEs and applicants from developing processing the application EUR 300 EUR 1300 countries Reductions 2 Annual fee for the use EUR 500 per EUR 25000 per 25 for SMEs and applicants from developing of the label 0 15 product group product group countries of annual volume of per applicant per applicant 15 for companies registered under EMAS or sales of the product certified under ISO 14001 within the Community Other reductions possible please contact your Competent Body for further details 1 These reductions are cumulative 2 These reductions are cumulative but shall not exceed in total 50 These fees do not include the costs of testing and verification which applicants have to meet themselves User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 13 14 15 16 17 Product group criteria are usually valid for a period of 3 5 years according to the Commission Decision on the relevant product group Ecological criteria are reviewed before they expire and may be revised If criteria have been revised yo
14. clare that please mark our product meets the specified limit values Average measured values are Zn measured eceeee tetera mg kg Cu measured eeeeeeeeee eee mg kg Ni measured sesser mg kg Cd measured seses mg kg Pb measured nassscrecrs mg kg Hg measured assssrsre mg kg Cr measured sesser mg kg the candidate product does NOT contain materials from industrial processes or the candidate product DOES contain materials from industrial processes in which case the product meets the specified limit values Average measured values are Mo measured sesser mg kg Se measured sesser mg kg AS measured assecc mg kg F measured sesser mg kg Analytical test reports EN 13650 and ISO 16772 Hg on heavy metal contents of the end product two different production batches produced within three months before the application date and test reports on sludge components if applicable an individual analysis for every single sludge source have been added to the application dossier Company stamp or seal 19 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 6 Product performance product performance criterion 3 Products shall not adversely affect plant emergence or subsequent growth The applicant shall provide together with the European Eco label application results from a vegetative trial germination test phytotoxicity test gro
15. ctual list of established product groups and details on eco labelled products and on manufacturers at http ec europa eu ecolabel Manufacturers importers retailers or service providers should make their applications to the Competent Body in the Member State in which their product or service is manufactured first marketed or imported from a third country If the product is manufactured in several Member States the applicant is free to choose a Competent Body in one of those Member States Applicants should seek guidance from the Competent Bodies on the information needed in each case The European Eco label for each product group has its own environmental criteria published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and the information required to demonstrate compliance will depend on the relevant criteria The applicant either tests whether the product complies with the criteria for the relevant product group or asks a laboratory to do the tests The test costs are met by the applicant The applicant compiles a dossier of relevant documents to show compliance and submits this with the application form 10 The Competent Body will conclude a contract covering the terms of use of the Flower label with each successful applicant A standard contract has been prepared for this purpose which can be found at http ec europa eu environment ecolabel documents pm_standardcontract_en htm 11 The Competent Body can request the necess
16. ctured in the same form please give addresses of manufacturing sites Other EU countries in which this product is sold if sold under different names please give names Rough estimate of annual volume of product produced e g 200 000 tonnes or 150 000 m Rough estimated value of annual sales excluding VAT in the European Economic Area i e the European Community plus Norway Iceland and Liechtenstein of the product at ex factory prices in etc please specify currency User Manual European Eco label Growing Media Is this the first application for the European Eco label for this product if not when and where was the first application made and with what outcome Please name any other environmental labeling schemes under which the product has already been registered such as the Nordic Swan Blue Engel NF Environment Swedish Standard etc The Competent Body will invoice applicants for a non returnable application fee on receipt of the application If the application is successful the Competent Body will invoice the licensee for an annual fee and apply all relevant reductions In the case of SMEs or product manufacturers of developing countries the fees will be reduced by at least 25 Applicants who have already received certification under EMAS or ISO 14001 may be granted additional reductions in the annual fee 1 Is the company a SME If so please provide proof of status
17. d volatile organic acids Minerals Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes Moisture content the liquid fraction that evaporates at 103 2 C EN 13040 Organic material material of plant and animal origin Organic matter OM The carbon fraction of a sample of SI which is free from water and inorganic substances clarified in EN 13039 as loss on dry incineration at 450 10 C Peat largely organic residues of plants incompletely decomposed through lack of oxygen The User Manual European Eco label Growing Media result of the partial decomposition of sphagnum other mosses and sedges Phytotoxicity is the capacity of a compound such as a plant protection product to cause temporary or long lasting damage to plants Porosity total pore space total volume of voids filled with water and or air measured under standard conditions suction pressure 10 cm Product or Production batch a defined quantity of SI produced manufactured and packaged in the same facilities with the same process technology and blend and in the defined period recommended maximum two months Sewage Sludge residual sludge whether treated or untreated from urban waste water treatment plants see definition set by the European Directive 86 278 Sludge a semi solid residue precipitated by the treatment of wastewater Soil improver can loosely be used to describe any material which improves the physical che
18. ed use by date b guidelines for safe handling and use c a description of the purpose for which the product is intended and any limitations on use d a statement about the suitability of the product for particular plant groups e g calcifuges or calcicoles e pH and Carbon to Nitrogen C N ratio f a statement about the stability of organic matter stable or very stable by national or international standard g a statement on recommended methods of use General information is obligatory unless national legislation requires otherwise Regarding the If applicable items in some cases information items are irrelevant to the specific product its application redundant or in conflict with national legislation These information items can than be omitted but only if a satisfactory justification is provided by the applicant C N organic matter x 0 58 N Parameters units quantity litre or m Organic matter content d w Ntotal d w i pH Testing methods quantity EN 12580 organic matter EN 13039 Ntotal prEN 13645 1 2 pH EN 13037 26 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media Declaration information provided with the product criterion 6 This declaration must be completed by the manufacturer I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that the following information appears either on the packaging or on acco
19. ends on tree species grading and maturity Batch see product or production batch Batch code identification code progressive number which marks the product or production batch Bulk density ratio of the dry mass and volume of the sample in grams per litre measured under standard suction conditions suction pressure 10 cm it is sometimes referred to as apparent density Carbon to Nitrogen ratio C N the numerical ratio of the weight of total organic carbon to that of the sum of organic nitrogen plus inorganic nitrogen N NH4 and N NOs Compost the product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic wastes in aerobic conditions see composting process that has been sanitised stabilised and humified to a degree which is potentially beneficial to plant growth when used as a Soil Improver Composting process a managed biological process that controls aerobic biological decomposition and transformation of biodegradable materials into end product called compost Dry matter the portion of substance that is not comprised of water The dry matter content is equal to 100 minus the moisture content Dry Weight Basis calculated on the basis of having been dried at 105 C until reaching a constant mass i e 100 solids content Electrical Conductivity measure of a solution s capacity to carry an electrical current it varies both with the number and type of ions contained in the solution
20. er to paragraph 2 2 Compliance is shown by a mixture of tests and applicant s declarations More information with respect to test methods can also be found in paragraph 2 3 Applicants should complete the application forms paragraph 2 4 and submit paper copies with an original signature to the Competent Body Filling in these forms or similar ones prepared by the Competent Body must be done conscientiously by the applicant in order to compile in one single document all the necessary information referring in particular to the origin of the product and the production process the application criteria limit values trial outcomes and the laboratories carrying out the related analyses For each criterion the applicant shall report in synthesis analytical outcomes and reference certificates Enclose all the analytical reports Certificates issued by laboratories with relevant photocopies of the laboratory certifications In cases of doubt please contact your Competent Body sufficiently in advance to avoid problems at a later stage of the process The application dossier must be sent to see Competent Body s reference For further information see Competent Body s reference Article 1 of the Commission Decision specifies that an application is possible for the following product group as similarly defined also in the CEN reports in particular in CR 13455 Growing Media Material other than soils in situ in which plants are grown
21. he application dossier At least 50 by volume of the growing media waste generated within the EU 25 is recycled after use This is demonstrated by the recycling report added to the application dossier This recycling report specifies the applied types of collection processing and output destinations applications if applicable the volumes of plastics that were separated from minerals organics and processed separately the annual volume of growing media collected input and processed by destination We add the most recent recycling report Company stamp or seal 25 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 11 Information provided with the product Information provided with the product criterion 6 The following information shall be provided with the product either written on the packaging or on accompanying fact sheets General information a the name and address of the body responsible for marketing b a descriptor identifying the product by type including the wording GROWING MEDIA c a batch identification code d the quantity in volume e the main input materials those over 5 by volume from which the product has been manufactured If applicable The following information about the use of the product shall be provided with the product either written on the packaging or on accompanying fact sheets a the recommended conditions of storage and the recommend
22. label Growing Media 2 4 5 Limitation of hazardous substances Limitation of hazardous substances criterion 2 In the organic growing media constituents the content of the following elements shall be lower than the values shown below measured in terms of milligrams per kilogram of dry weight mg kg d w Zn 300 mg kg Cu 100 mg kg Ni 50 mg kg Cd 1 mg kg Pb 100 mg kg Hg 1 mg kg Cr 100 mg kg Limit values are applicable to organic constituents only Maximum allowable concentrations specified below in mg kg d w are applied only to products containing material from industrial processes such as rice hulls peanut hulls or sludges from the agro food industry Mo 2 mg kg Se 1 5 mg kg AS 10 mg kg F 200 mg kg limit values are valid unless national legislation is more strict Analytical tests according EN 13650 and ISO 16772 Hg are made on a representative sample from a product batch and at least one further representative sample from a different product batch each of which was produced in the three months before the application date 18 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media Declaration hazardous substances criterion 2 organics only A declaration must be included for the final product but also for every sludge component applied in the product ref requirement 1 2 I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product de
23. ludges are single source separated and that we add test reports for the concentrations of heavy metals in every single source sludge in compliance with criterion 2 Sludge origins Code according European list of waste single source separated please mark the applied materials 02 03 05 fruit vegetables cereals edible oils cocoa coffee tea and tobacco conserve production yeast and yeast extract production molasses preparation and fermentation 02 04 03 sugar processing 02 05 02 dairy products industry 02 06 03 baking and confectionary industry 02 07 05 beverages except coffee tea and cocoa Total volume or weight of sludge in product volume or weight of product number of sources Company stamp or seal 16 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 4 Minerals Minerals criterion 1 3 Minerals shall not be extracted from notified sites of Community importance pursuant to Council Directive 92 43 EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora Natura 2000 network areas composed of the special protection areas pursuant to Council Directive 79 409 EEC on the conservation of wild birds and those areas under Directive 92 43 EEC together or equivalent areas located outside the European Community that fall under the corresponding provisions of the United Nations Conve
24. mical and or biological properties of soil However the more usual interpretation relates to materials which are added to soils to enhance their physical properties Such materials include bulky organic manures and various types of composted materials which may or may not also provide some useful quantities of plant nutrients They can be subdivided in soil conditioner planting materials or mulches Soil Improver constituent material which is suitable as an ingredient of a soil improver Stability Stabilisation refers to a stage in the decomposition of organic matter during composting The stability is measured as residual biological activity i e oxygen consumption as determined using a Respiration Index Self heating test Solvita test or other suitable methods Material that is not stable but still putrescent gives rise to nuisance odours and may contain organic phytotoxins Test methods Analytical methods approved by Member States institutions standardising bodies CEN UNI DIN BSI AFNOR OENORM etc or by reliable manufacturers associations BGK in Germany TCA in UK etc Waste any substance or object which the applicant discards or intends or is required to discard Water volume that part of the volume of the sample filled by water under standard conditions suction pressure 10 cm Weed seeds all viable seeds and propagules of undesired plant species found in end products 2 3 TEST METHODS The European Co
25. mmission has given a standardisation mandate to CEN for the development of horizontal standards in the field of sludge biowaste and soil under consideration of the characterisation of waste Mandate M 330 The standards in these crosscutting environmental areas are needed in regard to existing and upcoming EU Directives The mandate considers standards on sampling and analytical methods for hygienic and biological parameters as well as inorganic and organic contaminants Consequently the CEN Technical Board BT created a BT Task Force BT TF 151 Horizontal Standards in the fields of sludge biowaste and soil CEN BT TF 151 On most sampling and analytical topics final consultation will take place in the second half of 20067 During the period in which EC decision 2007 64 EC will be in force test methods should be in line with the outcomes of BT TF 151 as much as possible Until horizontal standards elaborated under the guidance of CEN Task Force 151 become available testing and sampling shall be carried out in accordance with test methods developed by Technical 2 see also www ecn ni horizontal User Manual European Eco label Growing Media committee CEN 223 Soil improvers and growing media Other test methods may be used if their equivalence is accepted by the Competent Body For instance if other consolidated and approved test methods for growing media are used in Member States or third countries they may substitute some
26. mpanying fact sheets of the candidate product the name and address of the body responsible for marketing adescriptor identifying the product by type including the wording GROWING MEDIA a batch identification code the quantity in volume the main input materials those over 5 by volume from which the product has been manufactured In addition the following information is provided please mark the information items that are provided the recommended conditions of storage and the recommended use by date guidelines for safe handling and use a description of the purpose for which the product is intended and any limitations on use a statement about the suitability of the product for particular plant groups e g calcifuges or calcicoles pH and Carbon to Nitrogen C N ratio a statement about the stability of organic matter stable or very stable by national or international standard a statement on recommended methods of use We declare that for any information item that has NOT been marked i e information items not provided with the product a written and satisfactory justification for the omission has been added to the application dossier We declare Information appears on or with the product in such a way as to be clearly visible for users consumers We furthermore declare that Box 2 of the European Eco label includes the following text
27. ntion on Biological Diversity Minerals applied as or in growing media are for example sand clay perlite and mineral wool The criteria also apply to minerals imported from non EU countries in which case the provisions of the United Nations Conventions on Biological Diversity are guiding Declaration minerals criterion 1 3 This declaration must be completed by the applicant I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that the candidate product does not contain added minerals the candidate product contains added minerals A detailed specification of minerals is given in the table below We declare that applied minerals are not extracted from notified sites of community importance or Natura 2000 network areas or equivalent areas outside the EU that fall under the provisions of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity For every added mineral declaration s of compliance issued by the appropriate authorities have been added to the application dossier Specification of added minerals please mark the applied Volume or weight of product materials sand clay perlite mineral wool other mineral i being O other mineral ii being Company stamp or seal Cross out what is not applicable 7 OJ L206 22 7 1992 p 7 8 OJL59 25 4 1979 p 1 17 User Manual European Eco
28. ply for the European Eco label Growing Media and under what conditions products can be certified These criteria have been established in terms of the Commission Decision of 2007 64 EC and were published in the Official Journal of 6 Februari 2007 hereinafter to be referred as the Decision The criteria cover all relevant environmental effects throughout all life cycle phases To apply for the European Eco label the products have to meet requirements for raw materials hazardous substances contaminants nutrient loadings product performance and product safety The ecological criteria for Growing Media aim in particular at promoting those products that e promote the recycling of materials e promote the use of more materials produced in a more sustainable manner thus reducing environmental degradation The criteria for this product category and background information are available at http ec europa eu comm environment ecolabel product soilimprovers en htm PART 1 General Information concerning the European Eco label 1 The European Union Eco label referred to as the European Eco label in this user manual is Europe s official environmental label The European Eco label scheme is now part of a wider approach on Integrated Product Policy IPP The Flower was first established in 1992 and revised by Regulation EC No 1980 2000 which extended the scheme to cover services In this manual product refers to both goods and
29. ry ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that the content of weed seeds and the vegetative reproductive parts of aggressive weeds shall not exceed two units per litre Measured value units per litre We add an analytical report specifying testing method and results to the application dossier Company stamp or seal 23 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 9 Electrical conductivity Electrical conductivity criterion 6a The electrical conductivity of the products shall not exceed 1 5 m or 150 mS m Electrical conductivity is the indirect measurement of salinity It is an important parameter to be checked for every product coming into direct contact with plant roots Unit of measurement is decisiemens per metre dS m or millisiemens per metre mS m Test method EN 13038 Declaration electrical conductivity criterion 6a A declaration must be completed by the applicant I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that electrical conductivity of the product does not exceed 1 5 m or 150 mS m Measured Value w cccsesecseeeeeees mS m We add an analytical report specifying testing method and results to the application dossier Company stamp or seal 24 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 10 Mineral growing media after use Mineral growing media after use criterion 6b Applicable to mineral
30. st is to be executed only for products whose compost component is not exclusively derived from green garden or park waste E coli test is to be executed only for products whose compost component is exclusively derived from green garden or park waste Analytical tests shall be made on a representative sample from a product batch and at least one further representative sample from a different product batch each of which was produced in the three months before the application date Parameters units Salmonella No 25 g f w Helminth Ova No 1 5 g applicable only if NOT exclusively green garden and park waste E coli MPN g applicable only if exclusively green garden and park waste Test methods Salmonella ISO 6579 Helminth Ova prXP X33 017 applicable only if NOT exclusively green garden and park waste E coli MPN g ISO 11866 3 applicable only if exclusively green garden and park waste 21 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media Declaration health and safety criterion no 4 A declaration must be completed by the applicant I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that please mark the appropriate option our product has no compost component the compost component in our product is exclusively derived from green garden or park waste that Salmonella is absent and that the product contains less E Coli then 1000 MPN g
31. t values must be reported in detail in the Application Forms which together with test reports and other information material constitute the application dossier see also paragraph 2 1 All individual criteria are highlighted and explained where necessary Where applicable testing methods are specified Every criterion is followed by a declaration to be filled in and signed by the applicant In every declaration the applicant declares that the candidate product meets a specific criterion Where applicable the declaration also indicates backing documents such as test reports have to be included in the application dossier 3 contact http www cenorm be cenorm index htm 10 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 1 General information applicant and candidate product Please fill out this form and insert it as front page in your application dossier Full name of applicant company Address Contact name and function Tel no and fax no E mail Web site Registered trade name s of product or product range In case of product range product names or internal reference numbers for products of product range Name and address of manufacturing site if different from above Where the product is made outside the EU please confirm that it has been or will be placed on the market in the insert name of Competent Body s country Other EU countries in which this product is manufa
32. u will have to renew your contract If criteria have been prolonged your contract is automatically renewed as long as the criteria remain valid You may use the European Eco label from the date it is awarded until the end of the period of the validity of the criteria Retailers can ask for the European Eco label although only for products put on the market under their own brand name As a retailer you can also request or even insist that your suppliers apply for the European Eco label In this way you will also contribute to providing environmentally friendly products to your clients It is possible to have an European Eco label for own brand products If a product is sold under two brand names you only need to submit one application If some of the characteristics of an eco labelled product have changed you will not need to submit a new application if only characteristics that do not affect compliance with the criteria have changed However the Competent Body should be notified of significant modifications More information about the scheme can be found at the website http ec europa eu ecolabel You can also contact your national Competent Body to know more about the Scheme at the national level to submit your application etc User Manual European Eco label Growing Media PART 2 User Manual 2 1 INTRODUCTION PART 2 provides guidelines to help you apply for the European Eco label for Growing Media For terms and definitions we ref
33. wing on test etc attesting benefits of the product regarding plant development Analytical tests shall be made on a representative sample from a product batch and at least one further representative sample from a different product batch each of which was produced in the three months before the application date Test method an overview and evaluation of standard test methods including a draft horizontal standard has been compiled as part of Project Horizontal Ref Baumgarten A and Spiegel H Phytotoxicity Plant tolerance Horizontal 8 Agency for Health and Food Safety Vienna Austria April 2004 the report can be downloaded from http www ecn nl horizontal downloads finaldeskstudies See also paragraph 2 3 test methods Declaration product performance criterion 3 A declaration must be completed by the applicant I We as the authorized signatory ies of the manufacturer of the candidate product declare that our product does not adversely affect plant emergence or subsequent growth We add an analytical report specifying testing method and results to the application dossier Company stamp or seal 20 User Manual European Eco label Growing Media 2 4 7 Health and safety Health and safety criterion no 4 Products shall not exceed the maximum levels of primary pathogens as follows Salmonella spp absent in 25 g and Helmint Ova absent in 1 5 g or E coli lt 1000 MPN g Helminth Ova te
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