The decision arose from a case involving a German association's challenge to the labeling of a disinfectant product, Biolythe, sold in DM drugstores in Germany.
The court's ruling states that biocidal products cannot be marketed in a manner that misrepresents their effectiveness or the potential health and environmental risks they pose.
The Biolythe product was labeled as an "eco-friendly universal disinfectant with a broad spectrum of action," "effective against the SARS coronavirus," and "skin-friendly, organic, alcohol-free." However, the court found these claims misleading due to the product's chemical components.
In 2021, the District Court in Karlsruhe ruled that the terms on the Biolythe label were not accurate, as the product contained various chemical components that contradicted its "skin-friendly" and "eco-friendly" claims. The court argued that such terms could lead consumers to believe the product was natural and free of harmful additives.
DM drugstores appealed the Karlsruhe court's decision, bringing the case to the European Court of Justice. The EU court's ruling, now binding across all member states, confirms that marketing slogans like "organic," "eco-friendly," or "animal-friendly" can mislead consumers about the nature and safety of biocidal products.
(mp/jh)
Source: Rzeczpospolita