EU waters down tyre labelling proposals

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels -- A new compromise deal has watered down the proposed EU rules on tyre labelling. The proposal is due to be finalised tomorrow (Thursday), following a three-way meeting in Brussels.

Lobby group Transport & Environment (T&E) said, "The latest legal text, set to be finalised on Thursday, would effectively turn the scheme into a voluntary programme, with no clear rules on how or where the labels should be displayed."

An EU spokeswoman said nothing is yet finalised, as the Council is due to present its proposals on the matter to the parties tomorrow (Thursday). She said the current working text could not be released ahead of the decision as it is still under discussion.

Earlier versions of the legal proposal would have resulted in compulsory stickers, similar to those seen on fridges and washing machines, being placed on car and van tyres at the point of sale. As well as energy efficiency information, the new label will also show noise and wet grip performance.

According to T&E, "the deal between the European Parliament, Commission and Member States offers tyre makers a vague alternative to the sticker, saying that the label should merely be 'shown to the end user in the immediate proximity of the tyre before the sale of the tyre'." That, says T&E, is unenforceable.

T&E said "Vague or unspecific EU labeling regulations have failed before. Notably new car dealers, who were obliged to put up posters in their showrooms showing fuel efficiency information, often failed to do so, or placed the posters in hard-to-find areas."

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Press release from T&E