European Union - Labeling/Marking Requirements (part 2)EU - Labeling/Marking (part 2)

TIRE LABELING



Tire label legislation requires that tire manufacturers declare fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise performance of C1, C2 and C3 tires (i.e. tires mainly fitted on passenger cars, light and heavy-duty vehicles).

The objective of the regulation is better information for the consumer and a contribution to a more energy efficient transport policy.

For more information:
Directive 1222/2009/EC
Directive 228/2011/EC

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT (METRIC) and LEGAL METROLOGY
This legislation specifies permissible ranges of nominal quantities, container capacities and the weights or volumes of prepackaged products.  Manufacturers are advised to take note that all labels require metric units, although dual labeling is also acceptable.

For more information
Legal Metrology

PACKAGING MATERIAL

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive harmonized member state legislation regarding packaging material composition and the management of packaging waste. Composition of packaging material is addressed in a series of EU-wide standards.   For the management of packaging waste through recycling targets and collection and recycling systems, Member States have adopted voluntary marking mentioned in the following pages.
For more information
Directive 94/62/EC

Wood Packaging



Like the U.S, the EU has adopted legislation to ensure pest control in wood packaging.  The marking used for regulated materials is based on the International Plant Protection Convention compliance symbol.
 
For more information
Requirements for wood packaging and dunnage

VOLUNTARY MARKS AND LABELS

CUP/FORK SYMBOL: MATERIALS IN CONTACT WITH FOOD


Manufacturers of containers, plates, cups, and other material that is intended to come into contact with food are required to check the compliance of their product with EU chemical safety requirements. Using the symbol shown above shows compliance with these requirements.  It is mandatory to comply with the legislation, but the use of the symbol is voluntary.

For more information
Legislation on Food Contact Materials

THE e-MARK


The e-mark, shown above, acts as a metrological "passport" to facilitate the free movement of prepackaged goods.  It guarantees that certain liquids and other substances have been packed by weight or volume in accordance with the directives.  While compliance is not mandatory, free movement throughout the EU is guaranteed for prepackaged products that do comply with the provisions of the directive.

Containers with an e-mark also bear an indication of the weight or volume of the product, known as its “nominal” weight or volume. The packer (or importer, if the container is produced outside the EU) is responsible for ensuring that the containers meet the directive’s requirements.

For more information
Prepackaging

THE ECO-LABEL

The European Eco-label enables European consumers, including public and private purchasers, to easily identify officially approved green products across the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.  Introduced in 1992, the label communicates to the customer that the marked products meet specific eco-friendly criteria that have been developed to apply to everyday consumer goods and services.
 
The symbol may apply to the following 25 product and services groups:
 

Manufacturers should be aware that similar eco-friendly markings are often used nationally, such as the Nordic Swan or the German Blue Angel, shown below.


The Eco-label program has recently been expanded to cover fish and fishery products.  This means that eco-labeled products have been produced in accordance with specific environmental standards.

Private Eco labels have been developed by the seafood industry to “influence the purchasing decision of consumers and the procurement policies of retailers selling seafood products, in order to reward producers involved in responsible fishing and aquaculture practices leading towards sustainable use of natural resources.”

There are multiple eco-label schemes, and logos, developed by a variety of operators and according to different characteristics. This confusing situation has led to a need for harmonization and coherence. In response, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has developed a “Guideline for the Eco-Labeling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries.”

The U.S. government has decided not to engage in the development of such marketing tool. Instead, NOAA Fisheries has developed a comprehensive website where stakeholders, including consumers, can find facts about a specific species of fish and related fisheries. Consumers can then make their own purchasing choice: Fish

The European Commission is currently preparing, at the request of the European Parliament and the Council, a feasibility report on options for a Union-wide eco-label scheme for fishery and aquaculture products. Some EU Member States have already created their own National eco label.

For more information
European Eco-Label website

GREEN DOT

The Green Dot system is a scheme in which participating bodies coordinate the collection, sorting and recovery of used packaging.  This system is actually administered according to national packaging laws (adhered to by packaging manufacturers, fillers, retailers and importers), and it should be noted that all participating national systems operate independently. The umbrella organization, PRO-Europe, is responsible for managing the Green Dot labeling system in Europe.  Interested applicants should contact one of the national administering authorities. 

For more information
Pro Europe