6.3.1
Direct costs
Companies wishing to acquire and implement the Swan Label are obliged to pay various types of fees. First of all, the companies have to pay an application fee covering the costs of administering and processing the application at the ecolabelling offices. For all of the five Nordic countries the fee is approximately EUR 2,000 (varying slightly due to exchange rates) for all types of companies. However, a discount is given to smaller companies which pay approximately EUR 1,000. Secondly, the companies pay a renewal fee whenever the criteria for their particular product group are updated and they have to re-apply. This fee is approximately EUR 1,000 for all companies while smaller companies pay approximately half. Extension fees are paid by the companies when they wish to expand or make changes to their current license. These fees are (except in Iceland) dependent on the number of hours used from the side of the ecolabelling office. Table 3: Application fees, renewal fees and expansion fees Country
Type
The Swan Label
Application Renewal Extension/changes
Micro enterprises = EUR 1,000, Other enterprises = EUR 2,000* Micro enterprises = EUR 500, Other enterprises = EUR 1,000* All enterprises = EUR 245*
Application Renewal Extension/changes
Micro enterprises = EUR 1,000, Other enterprises = EUR 2,000* Micro enterprises = EUR 500, Other enterprises = EUR 1,000 All enterprises: ½ working day = EUR 250, 1 working day = EUR 500, more than 1 working day = EUR 1,000
Application Renewal Extension/changes
Micro enterprises = EUR 1,000, other enterprises = EUR 2,000* Micro enterprises = EUR 500, other enterprises = EUR 1,000* All enterprises: ½ working day = EUR 270, 1 day = EUR 535, more than 1 day = EUR 1,070
Application Renewal Extension/changes
Micro enterprises = EUR 1,000, Other enterprises = EUR 2,000* Micro enterprises = EUR 500, Other enterprises = EUR 1,000* All enterprises: ½ working day = EUR 295, 1 day = EUR 590, more than 1 day = EUR 1,185
Application Renewal Extension/changes
Micro enterprises = EUR 1,000, Other enterprises = EUR 2,000* Micro enterprises = EUR 500, Other enterprises = EUR 1,000 All enterprises: Fees for changes = EUR 0–1,000, depending on working hours
Iceland
Denmark
Norway
Sweden
Finland
th
Source: Websites of the national ecolabelling offices. Note: *Currency converted, 28 February 2013. The application fees are set to EUR 2,000 in all countries although exchange rates vary and have an influence of the final price paid in national currency.
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Is it worthwhile to acquire the Swan Label?