Businesses Call on the European Commission to Prevent Unnecessary Waste & Costs

Businesses call on the European Commission to prevent unnecessary waste and costs by allowing the continued sale of products lawfully placed on the market before the Empowering Consumers Directive applies

Under the Commission’s current interpretation, confirmed in its recent FAQ, all environmental claims and sustainability labels must comply with the Directive regardless of when the product was manufactured, packaged, or placed on the market. This retroactive effect contradicts core EU principles of legal certainty and non-retroactivity and could force companies to withdraw or relabel millions of perfectly lawful products.

Such measures would generate significant economic and environmental impacts, ranging from costly relabelling and repackaging to potential product destruction, directly undermining EU sustainability goals and adding pressure to supply chains.

To avoid unnecessary waste and disruption, businesses urge the European Commission to:

1. Introduce a grandfathering clause allowing all products lawfully placed on the market before the application date to remain on sale.
2. Develop a coordinated plan with industry and consumer groups to manage legacy stock sustainably.

Without this, companies face a disproportionate burden and uncertainty.

Read the full statement here.