On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims (Green Claims Directive)
AGRI-AD-753776
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Petri Sarvamaa
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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gives its opinion on the proposed Green Claims Directive, which sets rules on substantiating and communicating explicit environmental claims.¶¶ It proposes amendments to ease the administrative and financial burden on companies, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and to ensure they receive support.¶¶¶ It asks that existing environmental labelling schemes count as sufficient information, that organic certified products be excluded from the Directive, and that claims go beyond legal requirements.¶¶¶ It sets a five-year review of substantiation, a 30-day corrective action period, and a 60-day verification deadline for labelling schemes.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the lead committees to take into account its amendments, which aim to reduce administrative and financial burdens on companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, ensure support for them, exclude organic certified products, and require claims to go beyond legal requirements.¶¶¶
Key points
- The rapporteur supports the Commission's initiative to update consumer law and tackle false environmental claims, ensuring buyers get reliable, comparable and verifiable information.¶
- The rapporteur stresses that information requirements must be relevant to substantiation and that existing environmental labelling schemes should be considered sufficient to fulfil the Directive's requirements.¶
- The rapporteur notes the Directive will impose extra administrative burden and costs on agricultural producers and traders, with a higher impact on small enterprises, so adequate financial and administrative support is needed, especially for small and medium-sized ones.¶
- Amendments to recitals add that the new framework should not create disproportionate administrative or financial burdens, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, and should be based on a cost-benefit impact assessment.¶¶¶
- Amendments state the Directive should not apply to environmental claims on organically certified products substantiated under Regulation (EU) 2018/848, and that organic farming should be developed further with support for small and medium-sized enterprises.¶
- Amendments require substantiation to rely on peer-reviewed scientific evidence, take into account international standards such as ISO or CEN/CENELEC, and consider the overall life-cycle environmental footprint.¶¶¶
- Amendments require claims to go beyond legal requirements, including standards for good agricultural and environmental condition and statutory management requirements under Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, and deem CAP eco-scheme requirements eligible for claims.¶¶
- Amendments allow carbon farming sequestration and emission reduction units certified under the Union certification framework for carbon removals to be used for claims and offsets.¶¶
- Amendments require traders to review and update substantiation and communication of claims at least every 5 years, and set a 30-day period for corrective action after a notified infringement.¶¶¶
- Amendments require the Commission to publish a list of compliant methodologies within 12 months of entry into force, a list of accredited verifiers within 24 months, and to adopt implementing acts on the certificate of conformity within 12 months.¶¶¶
- Amendments require Member States, in cooperation with the Commission, to provide technical assistance, guidelines and financial support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and to set up a fair support system.¶¶¶
- Amendments set transposition deadlines: Member States must adopt and publish laws within 24 months of entry into force and apply them from 36 months after entry into force.¶¶
Who is affected
- Agricultural producers and traders making environmental claims, who face additional administrative burden and costs.¶
- Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which are expected to be more affected and are offered support and exemptions.¶¶
- Organic farming and organic production, which are excluded from the Directive for claims substantiated under Regulation (EU) 2018/848.¶
- Environmental labelling schemes, which must meet governance criteria and may continue if they comply.¶¶¶
- Competent authorities in Member States, which enforce the Directive and verify compliance.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 25% of EU agricultural land under organic farming by 2030¶
- at least every 5 years for reviewing and updating substantiation and communication of claims¶¶
- within 30 days to take corrective action after notification of non-compliance¶
- within 60 days upon reception of all relevant documents for verification of labelling schemes¶
- 12 months after the entry into force of this Directive for publishing the list of methodologies and adopting implementing acts on the certificate of conformity¶¶
- 24 months after the entry into force of the Directive for publishing the list of accredited verifiers¶
- 24 months after the date of entry into force of this Directive for Member States to adopt and publish laws¶
- 36 months after the date of entry into force of this Directive for Member States to apply measures¶