COTANCE calls for action against Nike over 'Flyleather'
18/10/2017
The Council of COTANCE has now requested that the European Commission use its legislative power to implement regulated leather authenticity labelling in the EU market.
It explained that the leather industry has consistently asked the EU to address the “market failures” of the current legal framework in light of the “exponential” growth of false and misleading product descriptions related to leather. It said the damage this causes to the leather industry and its value chain “cannot be ignored” and pointed out that consumers are being “systematically confused or deceived”.
It urged the EU to extend the protection it offers to terms such as ‘milk’, ‘cream’ or ‘cheese’ to leather and leather products, explaining that a ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU in June 2017 related to milk and dairy product has “set a precedent for the principle of transparency and authenticity in the EU legal order”.
On behalf of European tanners, COTANCE also condemned the way in which alternative materials are often promoted by “denigrating leather and soiling its environmental credentials”.
It said that the leather industry has been forced to devote significant resources to defend leather authenticity “in the absence of a clear regulatory environment”. This is a “significant waste of resources”, it added, because the issue could be resolved with “appropriate authenticity and transparency rules”.
COTANCE also called on the European Commission to take action in the case of Nike’s ‘Flyleather’ campaign, which has come under a great deal of scrutiny from the leather industry since it was unveiled in September, insisting that it requires examination in line with EU rules that ensure correct footwear labelling and impede unfair commercial practices.
It pointed out that the term ‘Flyleather’ is illegal in several EU member states where legislation or standards prevent commercial practices that deceive consumers.
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