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8 October 2015

Comments invited on EU cleaning services criteria

The EU is inviting public feedback on the development of the criterion for a new EU Ecolabel for cleaning services, as well as the revision of the existing EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria for cleaning services. Proposed mandatory criteria includes stipulations on using cleaning products with a lower environmental impact, ensuring that they are not toxic to aquatic life or hazardous to the ozone layer for example, whilst also ensuring that they do not harm human health, including causing damage to the unborn child or impacting breast feeding.

The criteria also states that cleaning staff shall have access to instructions on the correct dosage required for each cleaning product, and outlines the level of training each staff member must receive in terms of health and safety and mitigating environmental harm. The criteria also states that minimum sectorial wage standards must be met. The importance of an Environmental Management System being implemented is further outlined.

The optional criteria focus on such topics as the use of energy efficient vacuum cleaners, the vehicle fleet owned by the applicant, and the efficiency of washing machines owned by the applicant. To comment on the draft criteria, stakeholders must be signed up to the EU’s BATIS platform. Non-members can apply for access by contacting JRC-IPTS-EIPPCB@ec.europa.eu. The deadline for commenting is 13 November 2015.

For more information, visit the JRC-IPTS website.