Brussels, 23/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has given its backing to the legislative proposal brought forward by the European Commission in November 2008 to put in place a labelling system to help customers choose tyres which are more efficient in terms of fuel consumption, increased safety and reduced noise, through harmonised and easy to understand information, with its adoption of the report by Ivo Belet (EPP-ED, Belgium) on 22 April by 642 votes to 23, with 8 abstentions. Labelling on the tyres will show performance on a scale from “A” (“green” products) to “G” (“red” products); in addition to fuel efficiency, the law will require manufacturers to display on category C1, C2 and C3 tyres (for private cars, light utility vehicles and heavy goods vehicles respectively), manufactured after July 2012, adherence to wet surfaces and external noise. To promote low-noise tyres, Parliament has included a measure setting up a new label with a visual of a tyre with ear plugs if the noise level is below 68, 69 and 70 decibels for CI, C2 and C3 tyres respectively. The Commission will set specific conditions for snow tyres. Parliament also backed the new legislation's allowing member states to offer incentives, but only for tyres graded “C” or better. It also calls on the Commission to set up an internet site on the labelling of tyres in the EU before September 2010. This site will become the main online source of information. On their sites, suppliers will have to provide a calculator so that consumers can calculate average fuel, CO2 and cost savings for each of the classes of tyre. Lastly, Parliament would prefer a directly applicable regulation to a directive. (A.N./transl.rt)