Governance & Policy
Green Claims Directive
Definition
The Green Claims Directive is a European Commission proposal, tabled in March 2023, that would require companies making explicit environmental claims to substantiate them against detailed criteria and obtain independent verification before use. In June 2025 the Commission announced its intention to withdraw the proposal and negotiations were suspended. As of 19 August 2026, EUR-Lex still lists the procedure as ongoing, so the proposal has not become law and its future remains uncertain.
References
Policy context of EU claim rules
The adopted claim rules that remain in force
Official proposal text
Current formal legislative procedure status
Negotiations suspended after the Commission announced its intention to withdraw
Overview
What it means
The proposal's detailed substantiation-and-verification regime is not in force. Binding EU claim rules currently come from the Empowering Consumers Directive and general consumer law.
How it is used
Practitioners still reference the proposal's methodology debate — especially on product environmental footprint — as a benchmark for credible claim substantiation.
Why it matters
Its withdrawal illustrates how quickly the EU regulatory landscape can shift, and why claim strategies should be built on adopted law, not pending proposals.
Current status note
Status checked on 19 August 2026: negotiations are suspended and the Commission announced an intention to withdraw, while EUR-Lex still lists the legislative procedure as ongoing.