On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products
IMCO-PR-749998
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Maria Grapini
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The rapporteur's draft report sets out Parliament's position on the Commission proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on digital labelling of EU fertilising products.¶¶ It keeps digital labelling voluntary and allows all Annex III labelling elements to be digital only for products supplied to other economic operators or without packaging.¶¶ For products sold to end-users in packaging, a minimum set of relevant information must stay on the physical label, including health, safety and environmental protection and agronomic information.¶ Digital labels must remain freely accessible for at least 10 years from placing on the market, and alternative means must be offered free of charge for the same period.¶¶¶ The Commission may adopt delegated acts to amend Annex III, taking into account digital readiness and the need to protect health, safety and the environment.¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes to amend the Commission proposal to strengthen safeguards for vulnerable users, require a minimum set of information on physical labels for packaged products sold to end-users, and extend digital label availability to at least 10 years.¶¶¶
Key points
- Digital labelling should not compromise the quality and accessibility of information on labels.¶
- Digital labelling risks harming vulnerable groups with no or insufficient digital skills or disabilities, and SMEs' digitalisation capacities must be considered.¶
- Economic operators may provide all Annex III labelling elements digitally only for products supplied to other economic operators, with or without packaging.¶
- Physical labels remain the preferred way for end-users to get information, especially for older professional users who may have reduced digital skills.¶
- For products supplied to end-users in packaging, a minimum set of relevant information must also be on the physical label, including health, safety, environmental protection and agronomic efficiency.¶
- For products supplied without packaging, all Annex III labelling elements may be provided digitally only.¶
- Digital labels must be freely accessible for at least 10 years from placing on the market, easily accessible, and not mixed with marketing information.¶¶
- The Commission's delegated acts must take into account stakeholder views and ensure digital label availability for at least 10 years.¶¶
- A data carrier must be externally visible and printed or placed visibly, legibly and accessibly on packaging or accompanying documents.¶¶
- Digital labels must be available for at least 10 years, including in case of insolvency, liquidation or cessation of activity.¶
- Where digital labels are in multiple languages, the choice of languages must not depend only on geographical location.¶
- Upon request or if the digital label is temporarily unavailable, economic operators must provide the information by alternative means free of charge for at least 10 years.¶
Who is affected
- Economic operators making EU fertilising products available on the market, who must ensure digital label accessibility and provide alternative means.¶¶¶
- End-users, especially vulnerable groups and older professional users, who must be able to access information on physical labels.¶¶¶
- SMEs, whose digitalisation capabilities and costs must be taken into account.
- The Commission, which is empowered to adopt delegated acts and must consult stakeholders.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶