The Commission Proposes New Consumer Rights and a Ban on Greenwashing

The European Commission (“the Commission”) has proposed to update the EU consumer rules to empower consumers for the green transition. The updated rules will ensure that consumers can make informed and environment-friendly choices when buying their products. Consumers will have a right to know how long a product is designed to last and how, if at all, it can be repaired.

In addition, the rules will strengthen consumer protection against untrustworthy or false environmental claims, banning ‘greenwashing' and practices misleading consumers about the durability of a product.

The Commission has proposed several amendments to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (“UCPD”). First, the list of product characteristics about which a trader cannot mislead consumers is expanded to cover the environmental or social impact, as well as the durability and reparability.

The Commission also amends the UCPD by adding new practices to the existing list of prohibited unfair commercial practices, the so-called ‘black list'. These amendments aim at ensuring legal certainty for traders but also at facilitating enforcement of cases related to greenwashing and early obsolescence of products.

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Zumbul Attorneys at Law

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