The European Parliament and the European Council reached a provisional agreement. This agreement concerns new rules to prohibit deceptive marketing. Furthermore, it seeks to provide clearer information about the products. The statement regarding this is available on the official website.
The agreement updated the EU's list of prohibited trade practices. It also added new rules on greenwashing and early obsolescence of products, according to the September 19 report.
“The purpose of the new rules is to protect consumers from deceptive practices and help them make better purchasing choices,” the statement said.
Before becoming law across the European Union (EU), the interim agreement would need to pass a final vote by Parliament and the Council in November, according to the statement. Member states will have 24 months to incorporate the new rules into legislation once they introduce the directive.
The agreement would prohibit misleading marketing strategies, such as “eco” and “biodegradable” labels, and generic environmental claims without proof of relevant and recognized environmental performance.
Only public authorities would allow sustainability labels based on approved or established certification schemes.
According to the agreement, the ban would also apply to:
- Claims based on emissions offsetting schemes that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environment.
Representative Biljana Borzan stated that they are cleaning up the chaos of environmental claims, which will now have to be proven, and that they will ban claims based on emissions compensation.
Source: Oils & Fats International
