Introduction of the ‘Triman’ logo

27.2.2014

Question for written answer E-002308-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Eva Ortiz Vilella (PPE) , Pablo Arias Echeverría (PPE)

The French Government is about to adopt the ‘Triman’ legislation, which will force manufacturers to introduce specific labelling to indicate whether products can be recycled. As each Member State has different practices when it comes to waste management and other labels are already in use, this new logo could confuse European consumers. It will also mean new additional costs for many industrial sectors and will pose a major obstacle to the free movement of goods in the EU’s internal market.

Among complaints made by Member States in 2012 and 2013 are several referring precisely to the internal market fragmentation likely to be caused by obligatory use of the ‘Triman’ logo.

1. Has the Commission considered the disruption to the internal market which the use of this label on all products could cause for operators whose products are sold in France and the problems which could be caused for consumers in other Member States, who are used to other forms of labelling?

2. Has the Commission assessed what the impact would be in economic and environmental terms if all 28 Member States decided to impose their own recycling logos?

3. Does the Commission intend to take any action on this matter?

OJ C 320, 17/09/2014