Archived press release

Energy saving labels may be banned

20 October 2005

Consumers may lose the chance to be eco-friendly, if plans to ban energy efficiency labels on appliances such as washing machines, fridges and irons are successful, warns Friends of the Earth as `Energy Saving Week' approaches (24-28 October 2005). A proposal to outlaw energy efficiency labelling is up for discussion at the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s ongoing negotiations. More than 200 similar `free trade' measures have been put forward and if successful, could deny consumers' access to `green' information on a huge range of products.

Countries including Korea, the United States and China are claiming that eco-labelling damages their competitiveness and acts as a barrier to trade. Other basic measures countries want revoked include:

• labels which show whether a product is recyclable, such as the triangle logo found on plastic bottles
• labels which show whether a product, such as paper, has any recycled content
• labelling which indicates sustainable sourcing, such as `dolphin-friendly' tuna
• safety testing on imported foods, like compulsory testing for lethal toxins in shellfish
• tax breaks for fuel efficient vehicle engines
• fines for manufacturers, when testing shows their products fail to meet their energy efficiency claims

Friends of the Earth wants the Prime Minister Tony Blair to use his influence with EU Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson, to ensure the EU opposes these WTO challenges.

Friends of the Earth's Trade Campaigner, Eve Mitchell, said:

"At the moment, shoppers can choose energy efficient appliances, because products are labelled. They can save energy and money on running costs and do less damage to the environment. But these labels could be outlawed, if other countries successfully challenge them in WTO talks. The UK and the EU must reject any attempt to undermine hard won environmental protection legislation.

"There is a total failure by Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson to ensure that trade policies can deliver their promises on environmental protection."

Notes

• The EU energy label rates products from A (up to A++ for refrigeration) - the most efficient/least energy used, down to G (the least efficient/most energy used). Currently, by law, the label must be shown on all refrigeration and laundry appliances, dishwashers, electric ovens and light bulb packaging.

• The measures being challenged, including the objection to energy efficiency labelling by Korea, are known as `Non-tariff barriers' (NTBs) and fall under the Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiations at the WTO.

• The sixth WTO Ministerial meeting will take place in Hong Kong, China from 13 to 18 December2005. UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Alan Johnson and Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett are expected to attend.

• The UK has no direct voice at the WTO, but is represented by Peter Mandelson in his role as EU Commissioner for Trade.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust