Sustainability labels under EmpCo: rules in force as of 27 September 2026

Last review: 27 September 2026.

Directive (EU) 2024/825 (EmpCo) amends the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. As of 27 September 2026, Member States apply the new rules. This guide summarises how private sustainability labels are affected. It is not legal advice. Only the Official Journal text and Court of Justice case law are authoritative.

Sources:

Blacklisted practice: Annex I point 2a

EmpCo adds point 2a to Annex I of Directive 2005/29/EC. Displaying a sustainability label that is not based on a certification scheme, or that has not been established by public authorities, is a misleading commercial practice in all circumstances.

A sustainability label is a voluntary trust mark or equivalent that sets apart a product, process or business by reference to environmental or social characteristics. Mandatory labels required by Union or national law are excluded from this definition in Article 2, point (q), of Directive (EU) 2024/825.

What a certification scheme means

Article 2, point (r), defines a certification scheme as a third-party verification scheme whose terms, including requirements, are publicly available and that meets openness, stakeholder involvement, non-compliance procedures and independent monitoring criteria. The dedicated guide on this site walks through each criterion.

Labels established by public authorities are outside the private certification scheme requirement.

How Label Registry helps (without certifying)

Glint publishes Label Registry, software from Glint. It is not a certification body, does not certify or verify compliance, and does not provide legal advice. Scheme owners remain responsible for their label.

Verified product features you can use today:

A public registry to look up published certificates.
Published schemes with a frozen version and public scheme pages.
Certificates with a verification page and QR code.
The EmpCo check (Diagnostic EmpCo) against Article 2, point (r).
JSON endpoints for integrators on the Pro plan.

Run the EmpCo check Create a workspace

EmpCo transposition tracker (EU 27)

Operational aid. This page is not legal advice, and Glint does not certify.