L 16/74 Official Journal of the European Communities 21.1.2000 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 17 December 1999 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to washing machines (notified under document number C(1999) 4650) (Text with EEA relevance) (2000/45EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of 23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme ('), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) thereof, (1)  Whereas the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regula- tion (EEC) No 880/92 provides that the conditions for the award of the Community eco-label shall be defined by product group; (2)  Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that the environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for product groups; (3)  Whereas, by Decision 96/461/EEC (?), the Commission established ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to washing machines, which, according to Article 3 thereof, expire on 30 June 1999; (4)  Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new decision estab- lishing the ecological criteria for this product group; (5)  Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within a consultation forum; (6)  Whereas the measures set out in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the committee set up under Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The product group ‘washing machines’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the product group’) shall mean: front and top loading household washing machines excluding twin-tubs and washer-dryers. Article 2 The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product group shall be assessed by reference to the criteria set out in the Annex. Article 3 The product group definition and the criteria for the product group shall be valid from the day of notification of this Decision until 1 December 2002. If, however, on 1 December 2002 a new decision establishing the product group definition and the criteria for this product group has not yet been adopted, this period of validity shall instead end either on 1 December 2003 or on the date of adoption of the new decision, whichever is sooner. Atrticle 4 For administrative purposes the code number assigned to the product group shall be ‘001" Atticle 5 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 17 December 1999. For the Commission Margot WALLSTROM Member of the Commission