Blue Flag

Website:

www.blueflag.org

Target:

The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches/marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services.

Product/service group:

Beach and marina sites

Awarding Institution & criteria:

- environmental education and information
- water quality
- environmental management
- safety and services

Award is provided for one season and compliance is strictly controlled.

Non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is running the programme. National and international juries evaluate applications for the award.  

Control mechanisms:

- The local authority is obliged to ensure compliance with the criteria whenever flying with the Blue Flag.
- Visitor and guests at Blue Flag beaches/marinas are good observers of compliance with the Blue Flag criteria at the sites.
- During the season, the national environmental protection agency is controlling the bathing water quality data.
- The national organisation and the International Blue Flag Coordination are furthermore performing control visits to the Blue Flag sites.
- In all cases of non-compliance with imperative criteria, the Blue Flag will be withdrawn.

Relevance on the market:

Blue Flag programme started operating in international level in 1987 and there are more tha 3450 sites were awarded an award in 2009 in 41 countries.