Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide technical specification from the professional technicians responsible for the manufacture, sale or maintenance of the washing machines or evidence that the washing machines have been awarded the Community eco-label.

Note: The criterion does not apply to washing machines not covered by Directive 95/12/EC (e.g. industrial washing machines).

The agreement is designed to reduce the energy consumption of domestic washing machines and thereby reduce polluting emissions from power generation.

Commission approves an agreement to improve energy efficiency of washing machines.

On 29 June (see IP 539), the Commission adopted criteria for the awarding of Eco-labels to washing machines and dishwashers. Today, the first such Eco-labels were awarded to three types of washing machine made by Hoover.

By way of example, the following ecological criteria have been decided : KEY CRITERIA - Maximum energy consumption 0.23 kWh per kg of washload (cotton) without prewash at 60 deg for a washing machine 0.125 kWh per place setting for a dishwasher of standard size - Water consumption 17 litres of water per kg of washload (same conditions as above) 1.85 liters of water per place setting (same conditions as above) - Detergent Consumption Maximum loss of 5% of detergent added via the detergent drawer for a washing machine BEST PRACTICE CRITERIA - User Instructions The machines must have ...[+++] clear markings identifying the appropriate settings for optimal ecological use in different situations - Encouragement to Recycling Polymeric materials which occur in components in quantities greater than 50g must have a marking identifying the material.