European Parliament votes for new tire labelling regulation

Brussels – The European Parliament has approved a revision of the EU tire labelling regulation which is expected to prompt innovation and increase consumer awareness. 

In a 13 May statement, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) welcomed the decision, saying it was “an important contribution” to the region’s green agenda.

“The European tire industry is fully committed to the tire labelling regulation and its success,” said Fazilet Cinaralp, secretary general of ETRMA. 

The tire & rubber body, however, called for a speedy development of the right mechanisms that will allow the industry to implement the regulation “effectively”.

These include the development of a tire application for the European product database for energy labelling (EPREL) "in a timely manner" ahead of the final adoption of the regulation on 1 May 2021.

This will serve a new feature in the regulation which envisages a ‘product information database’ to strengthen the information chain between tire manufacturers and authorities and to improve market surveillance.

The industry, according to ETRMA, will need to upload information into the database about the tires to be placed on the market – about 120,000 different types – before the final adoption. 

“The industry has concerns that there might not be enough time to ensure a smooth transition to this new system amidst an already challenging environment that deals with these new requirements,” Cinaralp continued.

The revision, proposed by the European Commission in May 2018, aims to make labels “more visible, more future proof and more accurate.” 

The proposed changes are expected to increase consumer awareness of the tire label, and help improve market surveillance and enforcement of the regulation through multiple measures, including “sanctions and penalties.” 

The tire label is an important instrument to inform both consumers and professional users on the fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise performance of the individual tire.

A recent assessment by the European Commission, however, has indicated a slow market uptake of high-grade tires, due in part to limited awareness surrounding the label.