5.3.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 57/31 COMMISSION DECISION of 17 February 1999 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to footwear (notified under document number C(1999) 340) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/179/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of 23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme ('), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) thereof, Whereas the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regula- tion (EEC) No 880/92 provides that the conditions for the award of the Community eco-label shall be defined by product group; Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that the environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for product groups; Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92, the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within a consultation forum; Whereas the measures set out in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the committee set up pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The product group ‘footwear’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the product group’) shall mean: () OJ L 99, 11. 4. 1992, p. 1. ‘All articles of clothing designed to protect or cover the foot, with a fixed outer sole which comes into contact with the ground’. Article 2 The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product group shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological and fitness for use criteria set out in the Annex. Article 3 The product group definition and the specific ecological criteria for the product group shall be valid for a period of three years from the first day of the month following the adoption of the criteria. Article 4 For administrative purposes the product group code No assigned to this product group shall be ‘017’ Article 5 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 17 February 1999. For the Commission Ritt BJERREGAARD Member of the Commission