AIM – the European Brands Association – together with other 17 European business associations, has issued a joint statement urging the European Commission to introduce a grandfathering clause under the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGT).
We fully supports the Directive’s objective of strengthening consumer trust and tackling greenwashing. However, the Commission’s current interpretation would require the new rules to be enforced even for products lawfully placed on the market before the Directive’s application. This risks forcing businesses to sticker, relabel, repackage or even discard perfectly compliant products already in circulation.
“AIM and our partner associations share a clear concern: applying new rules to products already on the market risks creating waste on a vast scale without delivering extra environmental value,” the group noted. “A practical, legally certain transition is essential for both consumers and businesses.”
In their joint appeal, AIM and the coalition call on the European Commission to:
- Allow continued sale of products placed on the market before the Directive’s application date;
- Work with industry, consumer groups and other stakeholders to develop realistic transition arrangements that prevent unnecessary waste and disruption.
This united message reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the ECGT achieves its goals while avoiding unintended environmental and economic harm.
