Please find below this week's main EU regulatory developments related to advertising.

Energy labelling - EP rejects proposal for mandatory energy information in tyre advertising

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Energy labelling

EP rejects proposal for mandatory energy information in tyre advertising

On Wednesday 22 April 2009, the European Parliament adopted a report on tyre labelling. Calls for mandatory energy information requirements in tyre advertising have been averted.

The original Commission proposal aimed to include a reference to the energy class of tyres in all ‘technical promotional literature’, including in printed adverts when they referred to the specific feature of a tyre (See EU Brief of 7 April 2009).

However, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (642 votes in favour, 23 against) a report by Belgian conservative Ivo BELET which states that technical promotional literature:

 “means technical manuals, brochures, leaflets and catalogues, either printed, or in electronic form or published on the internet but excluding media advertising, used in the marketing of tyres or vehicles, aimed at end-users or distributors which describe the specific parameters of a tyre”

Meanwhile, the European Parliament will vote on a similar text during its last plenary session before the June elections: the vote on the Energy Labelling Directive – for all ‘energy-related products’ – is scheduled for early May. The current draft would extend the energy labelling requirements (currently for product packaging and on point of sale literature) – including the A-G label – to all advertising which discloses technical specifications for ‘energy-related’ products.

Next steps: The vote on the Energy Labelling Directive is scheduled for the 4-7 May 2009 Plenary session in Strasbourg.

	WFA Priorities:
WFA is working with industry partners to seek a review by the EP Plenary of this disproportionate requirement for advertising to carry energy-related information. The positive results achieved on the Tyre labelling directive should provide a precedent for future definitions of media suited for energy labelling.

	View EU Brief Archives		View WFA Advocacy priorities		European Action Group Meeting 13 May 2009 - Brussels, 10:30 - 13:00