ISO TC 207 Environmental Labeling Standards and the USA Positions, 1995 Engineering Conference Proceedings

Sergio F. Galeano, Ph.D.

Georgia-Pacific Corp.

Kathleen Foley

AF&PA

The authors have been instrumental in the coordination of the USA positions in the three (3) different working groups, (WG),of the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and as experts, in different international meetings of Sub-committee 3 of the IS0 TC 207. Dr. Galeano is acting as the US TAG leader for Working Group 1 and in the Editing Committee of SC 3 for the Committee Draft document of Type I Programs, WGl The authors review the structure of the environmental labeling standards, the setting process, the different types of programs and the major players in their development, The existence of national ecolabel programs, worldwide, is discussed since their created interests weigh heavily in the development of the standards. The goals of harmonization, no trade constrains, simplicity and sound scientific information, are the core of the USA position. The impact of the new GATT/WTO treaties in these type of standards is also examined as well as how such impact was factored in the USA position and final draft documents. This paper concentrates in the development of Type I programs.