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France Introduces Compulsory Eco-Labels for New Cars
May 30, 2006
France Introduces Compulsory Eco-Labels for New Cars
Eco-labels reflecting CO2 emissions became a legal requirement for all new cars sold in France as part of the country's climate change policy.
A series of seven color-coded labels indicate CO2 emissions per kilometer of all new vehicles sold in France. The French government hopes the labeling scheme will not only inform consumers, but also pushing carmakers to improve their performance as a similar scheme for electrical equipment has successfully done.
Despite a voluntary engagement from European carmakers to cut carbon emissions down to 140g/km by 2008-9, progress has been slow. Environmentalists have warned that the industry cannot be trusted to self-regulate and that significant reductions will never be reached without compulsory measures.
France has asked Brussels to consider other compulsory measures to put pressure on European carmakers, Nelly Olin, France's environment minister, said.
More information is available on the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development Web site.
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