Multiplication of Environmental Labelling and Information Schemes (ELIS)

International trade and circular Economy - Policy alignment

“…77 The GPA generally enables to consider environmental sustainability criteria and specifies that "[…] procuring entities may […] prepare, adopt or apply technical specifications to promote the conservation of natural resources or protect the environment". 78 It also indicates that "technical specification means a tendering requirement that: lays down the characteristics of goods or services to be procured, including quality, performance, safety and dimensions, or the processes and methods for their production or provision […]". 79 In other words, the GPA establishes rules for its parties to refer to technical specifications that consider the associated environmental impacts along the product value chain, from production to end-of-life management, as long as they do not create unnecessary barriers to trade.…”

“…77 See: https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/rev-gpr-94_01_e.htm#articleVI. 78 IBID, Article X. 79 IBID, Article I.…”

“…France, as stated in their circular economy action plan in 2019, is also preparing to establish recyclability standards and a mandatory label system for electrical, electronic equipment from 2020 (Plan Climat, 2019 [78]). Aligned to this mandate, the French Environmental and Energy Agency (ADEME) undertook a study to examine the international benchmark of the repair sector (ADEME, 2018 [79]).…”

Greening regional trade agreements on non-tariff measures through technical barriers to trade and regulatory co-operation

“…41 The EU-Japan EPA similarly notes that when carrying out an RIA, Parties must take into account "to the extent possible and relevant, the potential social, economic and environmental impact of those alternatives…". 42 It further integrates harmonisation principles, requiring to consider how the options relate to the relevant international standards, including reasons for divergence. 43…”

International Trade and the Transition to a More Resource Efficient and Circular Economy

“…Similarly, securing information on chemical and material composition of products is of particular importance to ensure the recyclability of end-oflife products. With the emergence of global value chains, eco-design and eco-labelling schemes may also play an important role to facilitate a transition to a global circular economy (OECD, 2016a;2016b;Prag et al, 2016). These schemes need to be taken with care so that they do not act as excess barriers to access international markets (Prag et al,13 Based on HS codes720410; 720421; 720429; 720430; 720441; 720449.…”