The European Commission (EC) suddenly announced plans withdrawal of the Green Claims Directive proposal The move comes just days before trilateral talks (between the EU Parliament, Council and EC) are due to take place, after the proposal faced opposition from lawmakers, making its passage uncertain.
EC spokesman Maciej Berestecki confirmed:
“In the current circumstances, the Commission intends to withdraw the Green Claims proposal.”
Background and implications:
2 year journey failed:
Proposal made by EC from March 3 to combat greenwashing (greenwashing), when research shows more than 50% environmental claims of EU businesses are vague or misleading, 40% are completely unfounded.
Business Requirements Directive prove green claims by scientific evidence, through independent verification, and tightening the licensing private ecolabel.
Reasons for objection:
European People's Party (EPP) - the largest political force in the EU Parliament - criticised the directive for creating complex compliance burden, in contrast to efforts to simplify regulations for businesses.
The EPP also objected to the lack of impact assessment to demonstrate benefits outweighing costs of implementation.
The contents left open:
The EC declined to disclose details of the withdrawal process, saying only that it would "next steps announcement".
The move disrupts plans to set up EU common standards for environmental claims, which are expected to help consumers identify truly sustainable products.
Reaction from the parties:
Environmental activists: Concerns that this is a setback in the fight against greenwashing, causing the market to continue to be misinformed.
Business community: Some welcomed the decision, saying the proposed regulation would be costly to verify; others worried about inconsistencies in the legal framework.