With Commission Decision (EU) 2026/66, published on January 6, 2026, the European Union has brought forward the end dates of the EU Ecolabel criteria applicable to various product groups. This step allows the environmental performance-oriented labeling system to continue uninterrupted.
The decision extends the validity of the existing ecological criteria for five product groups covering consumer and industrial products for several years. This update builds on previous decisions and supports the promotion of sustainable products on the EU market.
Updated validity periods
With the new regulation, the criteria deadlines of the following product groups have been changed:
| Product Group | Initial Decision | Previous End | New History |
| Textile products | 2014/350/EU | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2028 |
| Beds | 2014/391/EU | December 31, 2026 | December 31, 2030 |
| Furniture | 2016/1332 | December 31, 2026 | December 31, 2029 |
| Shoes | 2016/1349 | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2028 |
| Wood, cork and bamboo based floor coverings | 2017/176 | December 31, 2026 | December 31, 2029 |
The regulation was introduced under Regulation 66/2010, which forms the basis of the EU Ecolabel scheme. Article 8(2) of the Regulation empowers the Commission to update the criteria for the relevant product groups or to extend their validity.
Published in the Official Gazette
The decision was adopted on December 23, 2025 and entered into force on January 6, 2026, published in the EU Official Journal. Thus, producers will be able to continue to apply the EU Ecolabel criteria without any gaps while continuing their certification plans.
