Tyre labels to show fuel efficiency, safety and noise

Publication date: 23 April 2009

Tyre buyers will be better informed about their fuel-efficiency, safety and noise performance thanks to a mandatory tyre label proposal adopted by the European Parliament. Like the European energy label, the tyre label will use fuel-efficiency classes ranging from best-performance (green “A” class) to worst (red “G” class). It will also show the tyre's wet grip and noise performance. The amended regulation was adopted by 642 votes in favour, with 23 votes against and 8 abstentions.

Fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise label
 
From November 2012, suppliers must show fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise classes in any technical promotional literature for C1, C2 and C3 tyres (fitted to passenger cars, light and heavy duty vehicles) propduced after 1 July 2012, says the report drafted by Ivo Belet (EPP-ED, BE). Distributors must also include these values in their bills, says the amended draft legislation.
 
The label will also have to be attached, e.g. as a sticker, to C1 and C2 tyres, says the European Parliament.
 
Low noise mark for very quiet tyres
 
To promote low-noise tyres, the European Parliament inserted a provision in the text for a new "low noise mark", showing a tyre with earmuffs if the noise level is below 68 decibels (C1), 69 decibels (C2 tyres) or 70 decibels (C3 tyres).
 
Snow tyres
 
The Commission will set specific requirements for snow or Nordic winter tyres under the regulatory procedure with scrutiny, say MEPs.
 
Incentives for fuel-saving and safe tyres
 
The new law also states that Member States may provide incentives only for tyres ranked at least "class C" on fuel efficiency and wet grip.
 
EU tyre labelling website
 
MEPs also want the Commission to create by September 2010 an "EU tyre labelling website" as a " reference source of explanatory information for each component of the label".
 
Provide fuel savings calculator on websites
 
Suppliers will have to provide a "fuel savings calculator" on their websites, says the European Parliament, adding that this tool should allow consumers to assess the "potential average savings of fuel, CO2 and costs, for C1, C2 and C3 tyres".
 
MEPs think that a regulation (directly applicable in all Member States) would be a better format for the new legislation. The Commission had proposed a directive, which would need to be transposed into national law.

 Fuel Efficiency - Tyre Labelling EP adopted text.pdf (241.4 KB)

Source: European Parliament

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Press Articles:

1) MEPs want beefed up green tyre labelling rules

The European Parliament has strengthened European Commission proposals for a mandatory tyre efficiency and noise label to apply from 2012. MEPs voting in Strasbourg on Wednesday backed most of the recommendations from the parliament's industry committee.

Meanwhile, EU government representatives held their first discussion of the tyre labelling proposals on Tuesday. The incoming Swedish EU presidency will try to reach a second-reading agreement with MEPs later this year, ENDS understands.

In Wednesday's vote, MEPs backed an EU "low-noise" mark for the quietest tyres alongside an A to G efficiency label similar to that used for household appliances. The label would also include wet grip information and actual noise emissions. Member states would only be allowed to incentivise tyres of at least efficiency level C.

The label would apply to all tyres manufactured from July 2012. It would be printed on stickers for tyres, leaflets at point of sale, and invoices. MEPs dropped the industry committee's call for the label to be moulded into the sides of tyres.

The commission is asked to set up by September 2010 a new EU tyre labelling information site with a fuel efficiency calculator. But contrary to what the industry committee wanted it is no longer required to provide explanatory posters and leaflets to retailers.

MEPs have changed the legal basis of the labelling proposal from a directive to a regulation, meaning it would not require transposition into national law. Belgian rapporteur Yvo Belet said the energy savings of the label would equate to around 1.3m fewer cars on the road at a "minimal" additional cost to tyre manufacturers.

Source: ENDS

2) MEPs approve new tyre labelling scheme

The European Parliament has adopted an amended regulation - by 642 votes, with 23 votes against and eight abstentions - which will lead to the introduction of mandatory tyre labels from November 2012.

The new scheme, as existing energy labels, will indicate the fuel efficiency of tyres with the best performing products being given a green ‘A’ class label, whilst the least efficient products will get a red ‘G’ class sticker. The labelling system will also indicate a tyre’s wet grip and noise performance. The labelling requirements apply from November 2012 to suppliers and must be given in any technical promotional literature for tyres fitted to passenger cars (C1), light (C2) and heavy duty vehicles (C3) produced after 1 July 2012. The legislative report by Ivo Belet (EPP-ED, Belgium) also obliges distributors to include the labelling values in their invoices. This new label will also be attached as a sticker to C1 and C2 tyres.

Shadow rapporteur Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (ALDE, Germany) noted that by classifying the decision as a regulation, tyre producers will now be forced to comply entirely with the rules as defined by the EU bypassing the national transposition phase. “This is what producers asked for in order not to suffer from potential differences in national implementation,” said Chatzimarkakis.

In November 2008, the Commission had proposed a directive that would have to be transposed into national law.

Whilst the labelling scheme has benefits for energy efficiency, car clubs have raised concerns as to safety in terms of wet grip. The idea is that motorists could be misled if they base purchasing decisions merely on energy efficiency without looking at more comprehensive tyre tests results, for instance, in terms of safety (wet grip).

Source: Europolitics

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3) Parliament backs strict labelling for tyres

EU lawmakers have insisted that tyre manufacturers such as Michelin and Continental must display details of tyres' fuel performance, as well as their wet grip and noise levels, as of November 2012.

The draft measures were backed by the European Parliament, which approved the proposals by large majority on Wednesday (22 April).

The new tyre label will use a fuel-efficiency classification similar to the energy label for washing machines and fridges, with performance rated from 'A' (best) to 'G' (worst).

The draft text still needs the backing of the Council of Ministers, which represents the 27 EU member states and may express different views.

Parliament sources said they expected the proposal to be adopted in second reading "under the next legislature", as negotiations with member states have not formally opened yet.

European elections are due in June, and the new Parliament will not start its legislative work before the autumn.

One contentious issue is the high degree of detail that the Parliament inserted into the draft text. This includes a new obligation to include a "low-noise mark" depicting a tyre with earmuffs if rolling noise is kept below a certain decibel level.

There are also new obligations for suppliers to provide a "fuel savings calculator" on their websites to allow consumers to make informed choices.

MEPs also chose to modify the proposal from a directive - which usually requires a lengthy transposition process into national law - to a regulation, a more stringent legal instrument which leaves no room for EU countries to tailor rules to their national circumstances.

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, a Liberal MEP from Germany, said tyre manufacturers had been asking for such unified measures. "That will on the one hand force tyre producers to fulfil entirely the rules as defined by the EU without delay by the implementation phase into national law. On the other hand, this is what producers asked for, in order not to suffer from potential differences in national implementation."

However, it is still unclear what the member states will decide. "It is possible that the Council will want less detail and prefers to keep it as a directive," the Parliament source said.

Source: Euractiv