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  3. Dishwasher detergents and rinse aids 017

Dishwasher detergents and rinse aids 017

This product group relates to dishwasher detergents and rinse aids for household machines. The rinse aid may be integrated into the product or it may be a separate product.

Dishwasher detergents for professional use cannot be labelled under these criteria. See the requirements for dishwasher detergents for professional use instead. Cleaning agents for dishwashers can also not be labelled under these criteria.

Nordic Swan Ecolabelled dishwasher detergents and rinse aids have to meet strict environmental and chemical criteria as well as criteria for efficiency. Moreover, packaging criteria must be met to ensure that it contributes to the circular economy.

The criteria include, amongst others:

  • Environmental effects of chemicals, including criteria regarding biodegradability and aquatic toxicity.
  • Health effects of chemicals, including complete ban on CMR classified substances and various specifically problematic substances such as identified and potential endocrine disruptors on up-to-date lists from EU and National authorities.
  • No use of microplastics.
  • Test of efficiency, for dishwasher detergents on low temperature (45°C).
  • Packaging design - and quantity and type of material used for the packaging.
  • Documentation of the biodegradability of the water-soluble film, if used.
    1. Start your application process by reading the criteria document and find out if your product can obtain the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. 
    2. Read your Application Guide.
    3. Request login credentials.
    4. Now you are ready to enter the Nordic Ecolabelling Portal.

     

    Portal sign in                               Get login credentials

     

    Should you wish to transfer your licence, please use this form. 

  • Fees valid from 1 January 2025, excluding VAT

    Application fee Amount
    Application for a new licence 3 348 EUR. Inspection of four recipes is included in the application fee. For inspection of additional recipes, 836 EUR per recipe will be charged.
    Application for a renewed licence when the requirements have been tightened 1 673 EUR. Inspection of four recipes is included in the fee. For inspection of additional recipes, 418 EUR per recipe will be charged.
    Annual licence fee  
    The licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic countries

    The fee is 0.3% of the products' turnover in the Nordic countries up to 30.9 million EUR.
    The fee is 0.05% of the products' turnover in the Nordic countries for the amount exceeding 30.9 million EUR.
    Minimum fee in the Nordic countries 2 232 EUR per year.
    Fixed fee that is added for sales outside the Nordic countries

    2 232 EUR per year if the turnover exceeds 300 000 EUR.

     

    Fee for extension / change of licence

    		  
    Should the extension regard inspection of recipes, which are not already included in the licence, 836 EUR will be charged per recipe. Other types of alterations will be charged a fixed fee according to how long the work takes. Up to 4 hours 418 EUR.
    4–8 hours 836 EUR.
    8 or more hours 1 673 EUR.

     

    Fee for on-site inspections

    		  
    One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.

    Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 557 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 673 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside Europe 2 790 EUR per visit.
    Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 115 EUR per day.


    Nordic Ecolabelling has no financial profit purpose and is financed through the fees above. We are however liable for VAT according to article 56 of the European Council Directive 2006/112/EC.

    Invoicing is made in EUR.

    When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the application 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.

     

    Fees valid from 1 January 2024, excluding VAT

    Application fee Amount
    Application for a new licence 3 251 EUR. Inspection of four recipes is included in the application fee. For inspection of additional recipes, 812 EUR per recipe will be charged.
    Application for a renewed licence when the requirements have been tightened 1 625 EUR. Inspection of four recipes is included in the fee. For inspection of additional recipes, 406 EUR per recipe will be charged.
    Annual licence fee  
    The licence fee for the Nordic Swan Ecolabelled products is based on their turnover in the Nordic countries

    The fee is 0.3% of the products' turnover in the Nordic countries up to 30 million EUR.
    The fee is 0.05% of the products' turnover in the Nordic countries for the amount exceeding 30 million EUR.
    Minimum fee in the Nordic countries 2 167 EUR per year.
    Fixed fee that is added for sales outside the Nordic countries

    2 167 EUR per year if the turnover exceeds 300 000 EUR.

     

    Fee for extension / change of licence

    		  
    Should the extension regard inspection of recipes, which are not already included in the licence, 750 EUR will be charged per recipe. Other types of alterations will be charged a fixed fee according to how long the work takes. Up to 4 hours 406 EUR.
    4–8 hours 812 EUR.
    8 or more hours 1 625 EUR.

     

    Fee for on-site inspections

    		  
    One on-site inspection in the Nordic countries is included when applying for a new or renewed licence.

    Additional on-site inspection within the Nordic countries 541 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside the Nordic region, but within Europe 1 625 EUR per visit.
    On-site inspection outside Europe 2 709 EUR per visit.
    Additional fee for on-site inspections lasting longer than one day 1 083 EUR per day.


    Nordic Ecolabelling has no financial profit purpose and is financed through the fees above. We are however liable for VAT according to article 56 of the European Council Directive 2006/112/EC.

    Invoicing is made in EUR.

    When both the applicant and the manufacturer are micro-enterprises, the application 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.

  • In the criteria document, you can read about how to document and verify compliance for each requirement. You can also find other application documents here.

  • Information on the latest version of the criteria for dishwasher detergents and rinsing products

    7.6 ⇛ 7.7: Adjustment of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 13 August 2024 to allow IFS standard for Household and Personal care as an alternative to ISO9001 (Appendix 1). The new version is called 7.7.

    7.5 ⇛ 7.6: Adjustment of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 12 March, 2024, to clarify that coloured packaging components made from PP are allowed to have up to 5% PE if it comes from the masterbatch and that recycled plastic, which is bought as one type of polymer, e.g. PP, is considered monomaterial (O19). On 16 April, 2024, it was decided to prolong the transition period for TiO2 in the requirements for classification of ingoing substances (O4) until 2025-03-31. The new version is called 7.6.

    7.4 ⇛ 7.5: Adjustment of criteria

    Requirements O24 and O25 have beed adjusted.

    The new version is called 7.5 and is valid until June 30, 2026. 

    7.3 ⇛ 7.4: Adjustment of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 31 March 2023 to adjust requirement O4 by adding a time-limited transition period – to 30 June 2024 – for titanium dioxide in solid mixtures.

    The new version is called 7.4 and is valid until June 30, 2026. 

    7.2 ⇛ 7.3: Adjustment of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 18 October 2022 to adjust requirement O20 and change the permitted amount of EVOH in flexible plastic bags from 2% to 5%.

    The new version is called 7.3 and is valid until June 30, 2026. 

    7.1 ⇛ 7.2: Adjustment of criteria

    Adjustment in requirement O20, where aluminium-layers and printing inks are excluded from the ban on metal if the packaging is recyclable.

    The new version is called 7.2 and is valid until June 30, 2026. 

    7.0 ⇛ 7.1: Adjustment of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 29 March 2022 to adjust requirement O11 by also exempting H411 classified surfactants from the requirement. The new version is called 7.1.

    7.0: New generation of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling adopted version 7.0 of the criteria for Dishwasher detergents and rinse aids on 19 May 2022. The criteria are valid until 30 june 2026.

    6.10 ⇛ 6.11: Adjustment of criteria

    Nordic Ecolabelling decided on 29 March 2022 to adjust reqiurement O6 by also exempting H411 classified surfactants from the requirement; furthermore it was decided on 3 May 2022 to prolong the transition period for tatanium dioxide in solid mixtures (e.g. in enzymes) in requirement O3. The new verision is called 6.11 and is valid to June 30 2023.

    6.9 ⇛ 6.10: Prolongation of validity of criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged with 6 months. The new version 6.10 is valid until 30 June 2023.

    6.8 ⇛ 6.9: Adjustment of criteria and prolongation of the validity of the criteria

    In requirement O3, a transition period has been introduced for titanium dioxide. Furthermore, the validity period of the criteria has been extended by 4 months. The new version, 6.9, is valid until December 31, 2022.

    6.7 ⇛ 6.8: Adjustment of criteria

    Requirement O3 has been clarified with regard to Titanium dioxide, which will be banned when 14. ATP for CLP enters into force. The new version, 6.8, is valid until August 31, 2022.

    6.6 ⇛ 6.7: Adjustment of criteria

    Requirement O3 CRM has been granted a time-limited exemption for H361 in self-dissolving foil. The new version, 6.7, is valid until 31 August 2022.

    6.5 ⇛ 6.6: Prolongation of validity of criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged with 9 months. The new version 6.6 is valid until 31 August 2022.

    6.4 ⇛ 6.5: Prolongation of validity of criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged with 20 months. The new version 6.5 is valid until 30 November 2021.

    6.3 ⇛ 6.4: Prolongation of validity of criteria

    The criteria has been prolonged. The new version 6.5 is valid until 31 March 2020.

    6.2 ⇛ 6.3: Alteration of criteria

    Requirements O4 Sensitising substances and O22 Performance test with connected appendix have been adjusted / updated. The new version 6.3 is valid until March 31st 2018.

    6.1 ⇛ 6.2: Alteration of criteria

    • Requirement O22, regarding Dishwasher detergent performance, has been adjusted.
    • Requirement O28, on marketing, has been removed.

    The new version, 6.2, is valid until March 31st 2018.

    6.0 ⇛ 6.1: Alteration of criteria

    • O6: An exemption for the enzyme protease has been made in requirement O6. The new version, 6.1, is valid until March 31st 2018.

    5.2 ⇛ 5.3: Prolongation of validity of criteria

    On April 16th 2013 it was decided to extend the validity of the criteria with 12 months. The name of the new version is 5.3 and is valid until June 30th 2015.

    5.1 ⇛ 5.2: Alteration of criterium O7

    O7 Environmentally hazardous substances: Change due to the 2nd Adaptation to Technical Progress (ATP) to the CLP Regulation: "Surfactants classified with H412 are exempted from the requirement, provided that they are readily degradable* and anaerobically degradable**". Read more here.

    5.0 ⇛ 5.1: Extension and alteration of criteria

    • On 15 November 2011, the Secretariat Manager's Meeting decided to prolong the validity of the criteria until 30 June 2014. The new version is called 5.1.
    • M6 Marketing/Design of the Nordic Ecolabel/Appendices: reference to the updated regulations "Regulations for the Nordic Ecolabelling of products" of 22 June 2011 or later version".
    • Appendix 7: updated contact details to wfk Testgewebe GmbH regarding the IEC Reference Detergent.

  • In the background document below you will find reasoning and facts behind the specific requirements in the criteria document.

    Here you can also read the comments, requirement for requirement, from the public hearing.

    If the documents are in a Nordic language, you can get help in understanding the sections you need by contacting the product specialist in your chosen country below.