Consumers and environment: availibility of information on fuel economy of new passengers cars

OBJECTIVE : To provide potential purchasers of new cars with the relevant information on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in an effort to guide their choice to more fuel-efficient models. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Directive 1999/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars. SUBSTANCE : This measure forms part of the Community's strategy to reduce greenhouse gases in accordance with its international obligations. It provides that: - a label on fuel economy and CO2 emissions must be displayed near each new passenger car model at the point of sale; - a free guide on fuel economy must be available to consumers both at the point of sale and also from a designated body within each Member State; - for each make of car, a poster in a prescribed form shall be exhibited with a list of the official fuel consumption data and the official specific CO2 emissions data of all new passenger car models at the point of sale; - All promotional literature must contain the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO2 emission data of the passenger car models to which it refers; other promotional material will contain this information on the specific car model to which it refers. Information on labels, etc on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, which does not conform to the requirements of the Directive, is prohibited. - Information on the ten most economic cars will also be provided, to be ranked in order of increasing specific Co2 emissions for each fuel type; - On the first review of the Directive, the Commission will consider enlarging the scope to used cars; ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18/01/2001.�