The members of the European Parliament’s committees on ‘Internal Market and Consumer Protection’ (IMCO) and ‘Environment’ (ENVI) support and want to strengthen, in order to make it predictable for consumers and businesses, the proposal for a Directive which will establish a framework for the substantiation and communication of green claims by businesses, with the aim of putting an end to the proliferation of misleading or unfounded claims (greenwashing) creating confusion among consumers (see EUROPE 13147/6).
The report, prepared by Cyrus Engerer (S&D, Maltese) for the ENVI Committee and Andrus Ansip (Renew Europe, Estonian) for the IMCO Committee, is a precise attempt to increase transparency and consumer confidence, and to give greater visibility to genuinely green products while reducing the administrative burden on businesses. It was well received at a joint meeting on Monday 6 November.
This draft report provides for the regular review of environmental labelling schemes, measures to ensure that justifications are based on reliable information, and a ban on environmental claims for products containing certain substances that are toxic for the environment, except for essential uses, stressed Bas Eickhout on behalf of Mr Engerer, who was absent.
“Equal treatment is essential, especially for products from third countries, but we must avoid multiplying administrative tasks”, stressed Andrus Ansip. The draft report aims to ensure compliance with other legislative instruments in order to avoid duplication and to ensure that SMEs can also use the procedures to substantiate their claims and are supported. It also plans to remove the ban on new eco-labels, “because the framework needs to be open for future innovation”.
As for the verification of claims, “it would be good to have a common method for substantiation where possible”.
Mr Ansip also mentioned an element which is not in the draft report, but which is dear to his Group: sanctions, which in his view should be dissuasive, but proportionate and a matter for the Member States.
The representative of the European Commission (DG Environment) welcomed the support expressed for the objectives of the proposal and its proposed strengthening, but warned against attempting to “over-regulate dangerous chemicals”, which are already covered by other legislation such as the CLP Regulation. The Renew Europe, ECR and ID Groups take the same line on this point.
Furthermore, the European Commission is not in favour of abolishing the ban on new labels, believing that “the rationalisation of all claims in the single market should be encouraged”.
The S&D Group wants to ban claims based on carbon offsets, while The Left wants to clarify the exemptions.
The Greens/EFA want to require that the methods used by companies to substantiate a claim be published.
The deadline for tabling amendments is 9 November. The goal is to complete the dossier before the end of this legislature.
See the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/9e4 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)