European Union Of Tannery Associations Calls On EU To Standardize The Use Of The Word Leather

The European Union of Leather Associations has called on the European Commission to standardize the use of the word "leather", according to the Natural Leather Fund. According to the report, people misunderstand the use of the word "leather" in non-leather materials. The European Council of Ministers approved a law on the protection of Italian leather terms. The Natural Leather Fund welcomed the measure. This is an important step in the right direction for the EU. The Act prohibits the use of the term "leather" in Italy for materials not made of animal skins.

Misleading leather logo brings huge losses to the leather industry. The European Federation of Tannery Associations estimates that European tanneries lose 1.7 billion euros a year, accounting for about 20 per cent of the annual turnover of the leather industry.

The leather industry welcomes healthy and fair competition, but it is unfair that manufacturers of synthetic substitutes can get away with mislabeling. In a recent report, FILK pointed out that there is no "leather substitute" comparable to leather products.

Other industries, such as textiles, have successfully obtained legal protection in the EU for specific product names. But when it comes to leather, EU consumers do not get similar protection when buying leather goods. Countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Lithuania and Spain, like Italy, have legislated at the national level, but shrewd (unscrupulous) operators take advantage of imperfect protective measures. wanton abuse of leather terminology.

The European Commission should take unified action to create a level playing field for leather industry enterprises, and individual EU countries should not be expected to undertake the protection of leather terminology.