(1)

The validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for textile products and of the related assessment and verification requirements set out in Commission Decision 2014/350/EU (2) expires on 5 December 2020.

(2)

The validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for footwear and of the related assessment and verification requirements set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2016/1349 (3) expires on 5 August 2022.

(3)

In line with the conclusions of the EU Ecolabel Fitness check of 30 June 2017 (4), the Commission, together with the EU Ecolabelling Board, assessed the relevance of each product group as well as the relevance and appropriateness of its current ecological criteria and of the related assessment and verification requirements before proposing its prolongation. For Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 this assessment confirmed the relevance and appropriateness of the product groups, as well as of their current ecological criteria and of their related assessment and verification requirements.

(4)

Moreover, in line with the conclusions of the EU Ecolabel Fitness check of 30 June 2017, the Commission, together with the EU Ecolabelling Board, is suggesting solutions to improve synergies across product groups and to increase the uptake of EU Ecolabel, including bundling of closely related product groups where appropriate and ensuring that, during the revision process, appropriate attention is paid to the coherence between relevant EU policies, legislation and scientific evidence.

(5)

To further facilitate the transition to a more circular economy, the EU Ecolabel criteria for textile products and footwear are due to be revised in line with the New Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe (5). It is therefore appropriate to prolong the validity of the EU Ecolabel criteria set out in Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 until the same end date in order for the Commission to be able to revise both of those product groups together, and bundling them if this is deemed possible.

(6)

In order to allow the required time for a complete finalisation of the revision process and to provide a reliable perspective allowing market continuity for current and future licence holders that can maintain the benefits of the EU Ecolabel on their awarded products in the meanwhile, the period of validity of the current criteria for textile products and footwear, and of the related assessment and verification requirements, should be prolonged until 31 December 2025.

(7)

Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010,