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VietNamNet Bridge – By 2013, the General Environment Directorate plans to
announce the criteria for eco-labeling (green labeling) laptops, laser printers
friendly to the environment.
Under the plan, in 2012, the directorate would build up and promulgate the
criteria for Green Label certification for battery products. Meanwhile, the
criteria for laptops, laser printers, and print ink would be announced by 2013.
After that, the watchdog agency would work on the criteria for desktop
computers, ink for photocopiers and standard batteries in 2014, before it
considers and sets up criteria for household goods in 2015. Household goods
include three main groups of products – washing machines, refrigerators and TV
sets.
Dr Duong Thanh An, Director of the Policy and Legal Department of the General
Environment Directorate, said that enterprises are not enforced to have green
labels for their products and services. However, Green Label would bring big
benefits.
The green label is a kind of certification that the services and products of the
enterprises have environmental outstanding features in comparison with the goods
and services of the same kinds made by other enterprises. As such, the labeling
would help improve the competitive edges of enterprises and the capability to
persuade consumers to use their products.
Especially, eco-labeled products would also enjoy financial benefits, when the
products and services, subject to the environment protection tax, would be
exempted from this kind of tax once they have green label.
An has said that the General Environment Directorate is going to sign the
agreements on mutual recognition on eco-labeling with some other countries. If
so, the Vietnamese products and services which have Vietnamese green labels, if
exported to other countries, would be able to enjoy the preferences offered by
the countries to the eco-labeled products.
When asked why the criteria for both desktop computers and laptops cannot be
promulgated at the same time, An has attributed to the complexity in building
and promulgating the criteria for the two kinds of products.
He explained that the criteria for the two kinds of products would be set up at
different times, because laptops are made in accordance with designed standards.
Most of the laptops are imports which apply international standards on the
environmental impacts.
Meanwhile, desktop computers are assembled from different parts (screen, mouse,
CPU…). Especially, many products or parts are made domestically which cannot
meet the requirements in environment protection. Therefore, it would take more
time and efforts to draw up the criteria for eco-labeling for desktop computers.
Also according to An, the eco-labeling has been carried out in many countries in
the world through the fee collection. However, in the pilot program on sticking
green label, Vietnamese enterprises would have eco-labeling free of charge.
In fact, eco-labeling was mentioned some years ago already. However, this has
not caught the special attention from businesses, simply because they do not
have money to apply the clean production.
Source: Buu Dien
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