EU amends tyre labelling proposal

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels -- Last week the EU issued an amended proposal on the labelling of tyres. The revised proposal, issued on 30 June, changes the document partly so that it can be converted to a regulation, as opposed to a directive but also to modify the proposal in line with the debate held in April.

In that debate, on 22 April, the Parliament adopted 42 amendments. The Commission says most of these are within the spirit of the law and in some cases enhance the text. The Commission therefore accepts most of the modifications.

Notably, the new draft modifies the 'point of sale' definition to exclude warehouses and storage locations. These locations will not have to display tyre labelling data. Similarly, the document ensures that media advertising of tyres will not have to carry such labelling data.

The EU will no longer be compelled to set up a website including fuel savings calculators and fuel efficiency information . This is rejected on grounds of cost. Tyre suppliers, however, will be required to set up publicly-available databases.

On the subject of market surveillance and penalties. the EC says it understands tyre makers' concerns, but says it, "cannot accept the wording which makes a distinction between sanctions and penalties. The term 'penalty' in EU law already includes administrative and criminal penalties."

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Text of amendments from European Commission