What is the ECO MARK label?
It is the certification mark issued by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to products conforming to a set of standards aimed at the least impact on the ecosystem.
ECO-MARK scheme
- Launch: The scheme is one of India’s earliest efforts in environmental standards, launched in 1991, even before the 1992 Rio Summit in which India participated.
- Ministry: The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change
- Administration of the scheme: It is administered by the BIS, which also administers the Indian Standards Institute (ISI) mark quality label, a requirement for any product to gain the Eco-mark label.
Products covered:
The Ecomark Scheme covers various product categories like Soaps and Detergents, Paints, Food Items, lubricating oils, Packaging materials/Package, Architectural Paints and Powder Coatings, Batteries, Electrical and electronic goods, Food Additives, Wood Substitutes, Cosmetics, Aerosols and Propellants, Plastic Products, Textiles, Fire-extinguisher, Leather and Coir & Coir Products
Operation of the scheme:
The Scheme is being operated on a national basis and provides certification and labeling for house-hold and other consumer products which meet certain environmental criteria alongwith quality requirements prescribed in relevant Indian Standards for the product
Implementation:
For the implementation of the scheme, BIS is responsible for the following functions:
- Assessment of the product for ECO Mark, certification of the product for award of ECO Mark.
- Renewal, suspension and cancellation of the licence.
- Products certified as eligible for the ECO Mark shall also carry the ISI Mark (except for leather) for quality, safety and performance of the product and shall be licensed to carry the ECO Mark for a prescribed time period after which it shall be reassessed.
- Undertaking inspections and taking samples for analysis of any material or substance in relation to which the BIS – ECO Mark has been used as may be necessary for proper implementation of ECO Mark.
For this purpose the Standard Mark of Bureau would be a single mark having a combination of the ISI Mark and the ECO Logo which is illustrated below:
BIS standard mark is
Additional requirements:
- To operate the scheme, BIS has included additional requirements for ECO Mark in the concerned Indian Standards.
- The terms and conditions governing operation of the licences including fees shall be as per the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, Rules and Regulations framed thereunder.
- Marking fee would be separate – one with and the other without ECO Mark requirements.
- Similarly two types of schemes of testing and inspection have been prepared, one incorporating the additional requirements of the ECO Mark and the other for BIS Certification against Indian Standards.
