Spanish authorities responded positively following advice from ETIRA and have agreed to cancel and reissue a tender that will include remanufactured cartridges.
Yesterday, 5th July, The Spanish Ministry of the Interior responded positively to a request from ETIRA regarding a recent tender for over 3,300 new OEM and non-OEM cartridges but excluded remanufactured and included Xerox cartridges.
Javier Martinez, the President of the European trade body ETIRA, challenged the government tender. He directed them to European regulations that require the reuse of printer cartridges and requested that the tender is cancelled and a new one prepared.
Responding positively to ETIRA’s input, the Interior Ministry confirmed by email: [translation] “We hereby inform you that due to the new European regulations, which require the reuse of printing cartridges, the tender will be CANCELLED to prepare new specifications that comply with said obligation to include remanufactured toner cartridges.”
In his submission, Martinez highlighted the contradiction that the tender calls for “Xerox Cartridges” when these, at least to date, were remanufactured (Document in accordance with DIN 33870 quality certification of remanufactured products.
In March this year, the European Commission announced that the revised Voluntary Agreement for imaging products would not achieve the objectives set out in the Action Plan for the Economy Circular regarding the possible reuse of consumer goods.
Martinez also cited the purchasing guidelines of the European Commission that include the criteria for remanufactured cartridges.
Spanish companies are enjoying some success at getting tenders to include remanufactured cartridges. In December 2021, The Recycler reported that Bioservice, an ETIRA member, successfully challenged a hospital tender worth approximately €363,554 ($410,000) that favoured the OEM.
Speaking at the time, ETIRA President Javier Martinez said of the case: “ETIRA has gladly worked with Bioservice to overturn this Spanish tender. New European and Spanish public procurement criteria insist on purchasing “green products.
In May this year, The Recycler reported that Bioservice, supported by ETIRA, had notched up another successful challenge of a printer consumables tender that called for “original toner”, which was a breach of public administration procedures that requires the technical specifications will not refer to particular manufacture or origin, or to a specific procedure that characterises the products or services offered by a specific employer, or to trademarks, patents or types, or to a certain origin or production, in order to favour or discard certain companies or certain products.
