European Commission He proposed a new law last March to end it. labeling bleaching (“greenwashing”) and ecological claims Six months later, without evidence of a “climate neutral” or “ocean-friendly sunscreen”, European Parliament and Council negotiators have closed a deal. interim political agreement About new rules that, once in force, will ban misleading advertising and require the best possible information about products to be provided. The aim is: Improving consumer rights and the fight against ‘ecological money laundering’.
“We found an excellent deal for consumers,” said the MEP, the European Parliament rapporteur for the report. Biljana Borzan. “With the commitment reached today, consumers will have the necessary information to make appropriate ecological decisions and will have greater protection against ecological and social money laundering, as well as other unfair business practices,” the acting consumption minister adds. Alberto GarzónOn behalf of the Spanish presidency of the EU.
The agreed text, which must now be approved by the plenary session of both the European Parliament and the Council, general messages It is classified as “eco-friendly”, “natural”, “biodegradable”, “climate neutral” or “eco” unless the marketer provides verified evidence of this claim. It also prohibits commercial communication about a product with a feature that limits its durability (if information about the feature and its effects on durability is available), as well as statements based on greenhouse gas emission offset schemes that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact. Impact on the environment.
More information and control
Also to combat these premature wear Unless they have been tested, no claims can be made for durability in terms of duration or intensity of use under normal conditions and there is no incentive for the consumer to replace consumables such as printer ink cartridges. For example, it clarifies the responsibility of retailers to report (or not report) premature obsolescence, unnecessary software updates, or tortious liability to purchase spare parts from the original manufacturer. Such practices will be banned, but traders will be held accountable if they know what design features lead to such situations.
Among the advances the new rules will bring, the EU highlights the inclusion of a notification and label using the European Union’s harmonized graphic format, which will include information on the commercial durability guarantee offered by manufacturers. “To avoid confusion with the mandatory legal warranty of conformity provided by traders, a harmonized declaration has been approved and where a commercial durability warranty is offered the label will include a reminder of this legal warranty,” the advice explains. . In order to give Member States sufficient time to prepare, the agreement 24-month regulatory carryover period upon approval.