Rechargeable batteries and portable chargers

The product group comprises both portable rechargeable batteries and portable chargers (known as power banks).

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel focuses on capacity and durability of batteries to ensure long battery life thereby reducing the resource consumption. At the same time, batteries and portable chargers must meet recognized quality and safety standards.

The requirements include:

Threshold values for heavy metals in batteries.
No use of PVC and a number of flame retardants in plastic.
CSR policy to ensure responsible use and sourcing of limited raw materials and “conflict free” minerals.
Electrical-, safety- and quality testing of batteries/cells, portable- and battery chargers.
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries and cells must be fully charged when leaving the production site.
Recyclable design of the portable charger.

Below you will find all the necessary documents and background information to apply for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel

Criteria document - version 5.1.pdf

The criteria document for rechargeable batteries is an overall document for the commodity groups:

Power banks
Rechargeable batteries
A separate fee is paid for each commodity group according to above list.

Fees valid from 1 January 2019

Type of fee	Amount
Application fee including one on-site inspection within the Nordic region *)	3 000 EUR + VAT, however not less than 750 EUR + VAT
Renewal fee*	1 500 EUR + VAT, however not less than 375 EUR + VAT
More than one inspection visit within the Nordic region**	500 EUR + VAT per visit
Inspection visits in Europe**	1 500 EUR + VAT per visit
Inspection visits outside Europe**	2 500 EUR + VAT per visit
Extension of existing licence***	Extension of existing or changes in licence < 4 hours: 375 EUR + VAT < 8 hours: 750 EUR + VAT ≥ 8 hours: 1 500 EUR + VAT
Annual licence fee for Nordic region	0.3% of turnover + VAT per year for turnover between 0 - 50 million EUR. 0.05% of turnover + VAT per year for turnover > 50 million EUR.
Minimum fee for Nordic region	2 000 EUR + VAT per year
Maximum fee for Nordic region	No maximum fee
Fees for sale outside the Nordic region (Only if revenue > 300 000 EUR per year)	2 000 EUR + VAT per year

* When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the fee is reduced by 50%. A micro-enterprise is in this context defined as an enterprise with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover (of both ecolabelled and not ecolabelled products) below 2 million EUR.

** Where audits requires more than one day away from the office including travelling, Nordic Ecolabelling can invoice an additional fee of 1 000 EUR per extra day. Other extraordinary costs induced by the audit can also be invoiced the applicant.

*** As for an extension of or amendments to a licence, time consumed in connection with the review process will be invoiced according to the extent of the required task. We make a distinction between entirely administrative tasks that last less than 1 hour, and all other tasks that last between 1 and 4 hours, between 4 and 8 hours and more than 8 hours.

The recipient is liable for the VAT according to article 56 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
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