ANNEX III
1. Application fee
The competent body to which an application is made shall charge a fee for processing the application. This fee shall be no lower than EUR 200 and no higher than EUR 2 000 .
In the case of small and medium enterprises ( 6 ) and operators in developing countries, the maximum application fee shall be no higher than EUR 600.
In the case of micro-enterprises ( 7 ) the maximum application fee shall be EUR 350.
The application fee shall be reduced by 30 % for applicants registered under the EU eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) or by 15 % certified under the standard ISO 14001. Reductions are not cumulative. Where both systems are met, only the higher reduction shall apply.
The reduction is subject to the condition that the applicant explicitly commits to ensuring full compliance of its ecolabelled products with the relevant EU Ecolabel criteria throughout the period of validity of the contract and that this commitment is appropriately incorporated into its environmental policy and detailed environmental objectives.
Competent bodies may charge a fee for modification or extension of a licence. The fee for this shall not be higher than the application fee and the above reductions shall also apply.
The application fee does not cover the cost of testing and verification by third parties and any on-site inspections that may be required by a third party or competent body. Applicants will meet the cost of such testing, verifications and inspections themselves.
2. Annual fee
The competent body may require each applicant who has been awarded an EU Ecolabel to pay an annual fee. This can be a flat fee or a fee based on the annual value of sales within the Union of the product awarded the EU Ecolabel.
The period covered by the fee will begin from the date of the award of the EU Ecolabel to the applicant.
Where the fee is calculated as a percentage of the annual sales value it shall not be more than 0,15 % of that value. The fee shall be based on ex-factory prices where the product that has been awarded the EU Ecolabel is a good. The fee shall be based on delivery price where it is related to services.
The maximum annual fee shall be EUR 25 000 per product group per applicant.
In the case of SMEs, micro-enterprises or applicants from developing countries, the annual fee shall be reduced by at least 25 %.
The annual fee does not cover the cost of testing, verification and any on-site inspections that may be required. Applicants will cover the cost of such testing, verification and inspections themselves.
3. Inspection fee
The competent body may charge an inspection fee.
( 6 ) Small and medium enterprises as defined by Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36).
( 7 ) Micro-enterprises as defined by Recommendation 2003/361/EC.