Adopted on Thursday, by 39 votes in favour, 1 against and with 3 abstentions, the Internal Market Committee report proposes revisions to the EU's new legislative framework (NLF) for products, to support the digital and sustainable transition. The emphasis is on promoting sustainable business models and consumption patterns, with a focus on the circular economy. The report calls for harmonised definitions and certification for refurbishers and repairers.
Transparent information for consumers and authorities
The digital product passport (DPP) is seen as a central tool that can transform product compliance and market surveillance, by streamlining information requirements, enhancing transparency and traceability, and increasing coherence across the single market. Through the NLF revision, MEPs suggest gradually introducing the DPP for all relevant products, including second-hand items, as well as replacing existing declarations of conformity and using it to integrate CE marking information.
Durability and sustainable consumption
MEPs strongly believe that durability is pivotal in promoting high-quality, long-lasting products. In line with the Ecodesign Regulation, under the NLF manufacturers should be required to ensure the availability of spare parts and maintenance services over an extended period, depending on product categories.
right to repair and the Waste Framework Directive) to encourage consumers to transition away from unsustainable consumption patterns, MEPs argue. They also call on the Commission to address the risks and challenges associated with fast-fashion and ultra-fast fashion business models, including more robust conformity assessments and enhanced enforcement tools.
Legal certainty for circular economy actors
The report calls for harmonised definitions for ‘remanufacturers’, ‘refurbishers’, ‘repairers’ and other emerging social and economic actors, to prevent their erroneous classification as manufacturers or importers and to remove the risk of sanctions for non-compliance. MEPs see the DPP as a tool that can bridge information gaps for these actors, giving them access to the relevant compliance and safety information necessary to restore products. They also propose EU-wide certification for refurbishers and repairers, to enhance consumer trust in second-hand products and boost job creation in the sector.
Market surveillance, standardisation and conformity assessment
The report stresses the importance of effective and consistent implementation of the Market Surveillance Regulation for the NLF. It calls for stronger operational capacity and coordination of national and EU authorities and invites the Commission to consider establishing an EU Market Surveillance Authority. It also addresses the importance of standardisation and conformity assessments, aiming for greater transparency, efficiency, and consistency across member states.
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The rapporteur David Cormand (Greens/EFA, France) said: “Three of the five chapters of the report we just adopted put sustainability, consumer rights, and the circular economy at the heart of EU product rules: the digital product passport ensures clear information on durability, repairability, recyclability, and energy use; strict measures target fast and ultra-fast fashion; and repairers, refurbishers, and second-hand markets are supported with fair rules and EU-wide certification. The report also strengthens corporate accountability and market surveillance, ensuring safer, greener products for all Europeans."
Background
Adopted in 2008, the new legislative framework was designed to improve the internal market for goods by strengthening rules for placing products on the EU market. It introduced measures to improve market surveillance, boost the quality of conformity assessments, clarify CE marking and create a toolbox for product legislation.
The 2020 evaluation of the NLF found it effective in reducing divergences and making rules clearer for stakeholders. However, it recommended exploring updates to address challenges of digitalisation and complex value chains, facilitate remanufacturing and high-quality recycling, and introduce innovations such as a digital product passport and digital CE marking.
