The Public Construction Commission (PCC), Executive Yuan announced the regulations on priority procurement of environmental products for local government agencies. According to the regulations, which took effect on May 27, 1999, local government agencies shall have adequate authority to procure environmental products and power to give environmental manufacturers special bidding privileges that include reduced tariffs on their goods. These privileges must be clearly written in bidding documents according to the regulations.
II. INTRODUCTION
The Green Mark Program of Taiwan was launched in August, 1992 by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (TEPA). The program was developed to promote the concept of recycling, pollution reduction, and resource conservation. The objective of awarding the Green Mark is to steer consumers toward environmentally sound goods and to encourage manufacturers to design and supply environmentally benign products. The Green Mark Program is entirely funded by the TEPA and the Center for Pollution Control Technology (CPCT) of the Industrial Research Institute (ITRI). The Environment and Development Foundation (EDF) is assisting the TEPA to implement the program.
III. GREEN MARK PROGRAM GOALS
To select environmentally benign products to meet domestic demands.
To formulate reasonable and close-fitted criteria for Green Mark products.
To consolidate consumer product application and Green Mark product management, and to maintain public reliance.
To promote the concept of the consumption of Green Mark products which in turn stimulates manufacturers to produce green products.
To develop channels for international exchange and to participate actively in international activities.
IV. GREEN MARK LOGO APPLICATION AND TERMS OF USE
A Review Committee organized by the TEPA will handle Green Mark logo applications and also manage the use of the logo. A company has to satisfy the following prerequisites before being allowed to apply for logo use:
Must be free of repeat penalties from the environmental protection authorities, and/or suspension or shut-down, permit revocation or indictment during the previous year prior to the date of application.
Remarkable environmental performance in raw material acquisition, material usage, production and delivery of products. Also outstanding performance in waste reduction during waste collection, clean-up, and disposal. Energy and resource conservation are also considered.
Manufacture products that meet Green Mark criteria and any existing national performance criteria.
Manufacture products that meet quality and safety standards.
An applicant must also submit company registration license, clean-up proposals, and other certificates indicating compliance with environmental regulations. Once a company has met all requirements and passes Review Committee consideration, it is allowed to use the logo for two years. Companies must be prepared to accommodate unscheduled on-site inspections to ensure licensees are in compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
V. PRIORITY PROCUREMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
The Public Construction Commission (PCC) of the Executive Yuan has set forth the regulations detailing priority procurement of environmentally sound goods for local government agencies. These goods shall bear the Green Mark.
Goods falling under the following categories are considered Green Mark items:
1. Those approved by the TEPA and any goods certified by foreign environmental labels that have an agreement with the EDF. Currently, the EDF has entered agreements with the Environmental Choice Program of Canada and with the Green Seal of the United States, to mutually recognize each others certification capability and individual product criterion.
2. Goods and their raw materials listed under the Government Purchasing Act Article 96 that are environmentally sound in manufacturing, utilization, and disposal; that is, can be recovered, recycled, are low polluters, and energy efficient.
3. According to the previous Act, Article 6, goods that increase social benefit or decrease social costs can be certified by relevant authorities.
The regulations do no apply when purchases are bound by trade agreements or when environmental goods are only a portion of the project bids. As an incentive to supply products bearing the Green Mark, government agencies can purchase goods mentioned above with tariff reductions. The degree of reduction depends on the nature of the bid and the budget for the purchase. Tariff reduction is capped at 10% of the bidding price.
In case the lowest bid made originated from a firm not producing Green Mark products, government agencies can offer bid invitations to a Green mark firm whose products offer similar performance at a price gap of less than 10%. Furthermore, local manufacturers are given preferential weighting.
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CONTACT
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1. U.S. firms wishing to learn more about the project are encouraged to contact the following individuals for additional information:
Mark Lewis, Commercial Officer
American Institute in Taiwan
32F, 333, Sec. 1, Keelung Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 886-2-2720-1550, Ext. 386
Fax: 886-2-2757-7162
Jennifer Huang, Acting Director
United States-Asia Environmental Partnership
American Institute in Taiwan
32F, 333, Sec. 1, Keelung Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 886-2-2720-1550, Ext. 343
Fax: 886-2-2757-7086
Dr. Ning Yu, Director
Environment and Development Foundation
Bldg. 53, #195, Section 4, Chung-Hsin Road, Chutung, Hsinchu, Taiwan 310
Tel: 886-35-916221
Fax: 886-35-820231
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AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN
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2. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is a private non-profit corporation established to carry out relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan. AIT’s Commercial Section assists U.S. firms in exporting their products to Taiwan through U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) services, which include market research reports, agent/distributor searches, trade missions, trade shows, and advocacy. Access these services by contacting AIT’s Commercial Section at Tel: 886-2-2720-1550, Fax: 886-2-2757-7162, Internet: http://ait.org.tw; or through USDOC’s nationwide network of export assistance centers listed in your telephone directory Blue Pages under U.S. Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration, and at www.ita.doc on the Internet.
3. If this report has alerted you to a successful commercial opportunity in Taiwan and/or you have comments on this report, please let us know. We want to gauge the effectiveness of our market reports and services.
