How to use the EU Ecolabel Scheme

Last updated 31 December 2020

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has ceased to participate in the European Union's EU Ecolabel Scheme.

Any EU Ecolabel licences awarded by the United Kingdom competent body are no longer valid. Therefore, you can no longer use UK-licensed EU Ecolabel markings on products, packaging or marketing materials. The only exception to this is products and packaging that were already placed on the European Economic Area (EEA) or Northern Ireland market on or before 31 December 2020.

Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU Ecolabel Regulations continue to apply in NI. However, EU Ecolabel licences granted by the NI competent body are only valid for use in NI. Applicants in NI can instead apply to the competent body that manages the scheme in any EEA country where the eligible product is sold.

Businesses in GB that want to apply for a new EU Ecolabel licence may only do so with the competent body of an EEA country where the eligible product is sold.

Check if your product or service is eligible

The EU Ecolabel is a voluntary label, which shows that your product or service meets a specific environmental standard.

To use the label, you must be:

• a manufacturer
• an importer
• a service provider
• a wholesaler
• a trader or retailer marketing products under your own brand name

Check if your product or service is on the list of products and services that are eligible for the European EU Ecolabel scheme.

You can apply for a licence to use the EU Ecolabel if your product or service is distributed, consumed or used in the EEA.

To find the environmental criteria, find the category that fits your product or service on the EU Ecolabel website.

Check which country to apply to

If your product is made in the EU, you can apply to the body that manages the scheme for an EU Ecolabel in either:

• the country where your product is made
• the country where your headquarters are

If your product is made outside the EU, you can apply to the body that manages the scheme in any EEA country where it’s sold.

Find out who manages the EU Ecolabel scheme in the EEA countries.

Get an application pack

You need to create an account with the European Commission Authentication Service’s online application tool, ECAT - find out more about the ECAT system.

You need to download the application pack for your product. This is listed under the specific product category.

Contact the competent body that you’ll be applying to find out who manages the EU Ecolabel scheme in the EEA countries.

Where to get advice

Find out who manages the EU Ecolabel scheme in the EEA countries.

EU Ecolabel licence holders in GB should contact the competent body that has awarded their licences for advice.

NI businesses should contact the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) for advice by emailing euecolabel-NI@defra.gov.uk