Environment NGOs criticise EU deal on tyre labelling
Tue 29 September 2009
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Groups campaigning for sustainable transport have criticised what they say is a last minute EU deal on a new energy efficiency, safety and noise label for vehicle tyres which they say makes the scheme voluntary and with no clear rules on how the labels should be displayed.
Transport & Environment and ANEC, the European consumer voice in standardisation, want an obligatory tyre sticker to be introduced, in line with the original European Commission proposal. The legal text for the measure is due to be finalised on October 1.
T&E says that 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 should also show noise and ‘wet grip’ performance.
The latest deal, the groups say, 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". The objectors say that this would be unenforceable.
Jos Dings of Transport & Environment said: “A labeling scheme only works when the worst as well as the best products show the same information, in the same way. A voluntary scheme won’t work and is a huge waste of legislators’ time. It’s not too late to put this back on track and help consumers choose the most efficient tyres which save on fuel bills and emissions.”
The tyre maker Michelin said it would prefer labels to be mandatory on the tyres. "We will show the labels on the tyres ourselves, even if it is not compulsory," said Michelin spokesman Fabrice Lenica.
The best tyres can improve car fuel efficiency by reducing ‘rolling resistance’; the friction between the tyre and the road.
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