Newsletter April 2023

European Parliament adopts new law to fight global deforestation

The European Parliament approved a new law to fight climate change and biodiversity loss. This decision will ensure that products sold in the EU have not led to deforestation, making companies comply with a so-called “due diligence” statement confirming that the product does not come from deforested land or has led to forest degradation. While there is not a ban on any product or country, the European Commission issued a list with the products affected…

EU institutions approve General Product Safety Regulation

The Council of the European Union has adopted the general product safety regulation (GPSR), which reinforces the safety rules for products sold both offline and online. The regulation will reinforce market surveillance for unsafe products and consumer rights for anyone who has been sold an unsafe product. It should be noted that the GSPR only applies for products where there is no specific legislation, meaning companies in the recreational boating industry (i.e suppliers) will have to…

Infringement procedures against five countries for lack of compliance on Maritime Spatial Planning Directive

The European Commission sent reasoned opinions to Bulgaria (INFR(2022)2025), Greece (INFR(2021)2226), Italy (INFR(2021)2223), Cyprus (INFR(2021)2227) and Romania (INFR(2021)2224) on failure to ensure proper implementation of Directive (EU) 2014/89 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning. The EU's Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSP) is relevant for the recreational boating sector as it establishes a framework for the sustainable use of marine resources and the spatial planning of maritime activities. The MSP directive requires member states to…

EBI granted observer status of HELCOM Convention

HELCOM, or the Helsinki Commission, is an intergovernmental organization that works to protect and conserve the marine environment of the Baltic Sea region. Its members include the nine coastal states and the European Union. HELCOM is relevant for the recreational boating sector as it provides joint policy approaches, guidance and recommendations on sustainable practices for boating activities in the Baltic Sea. For example, HELCOM has developed guidelines on the disposal of sewage from boats and…

boot Düsseldorf and EBI publish study on “future of sustainable on-water propulsion”

The study, initiated by boot Düsseldorf, developed by European Boating Industry, supported by ADAC and conducted by Sea Teach SL, gathers relevant data on the needs of boaters and can be a useful guide for manufacturers, giving them a better understanding of the future trends of the industry and the views of consumers in particular. The study shows a clear support for sustainability and the use of alternative drives and fuels. However, consumers remain critical…

EBI invites FSC to present their newest initiative: Yachting for Forests

In April, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was invited to EBI Executive Committee to present their latest initiative to prevent deforestation in cooperation with the boating and yachting sector: Yachting for Forests. The aim of the initiative is to encourage the boating industry to use sustainabily sourced wood for its different needs, focusing on teak and other timber. FSC sees the boating industry in a unique position, as it uses large volumes of the world´s…

Survey on drought management and water allocation in inland navigation

Together with other maritime associations, EBI is a member of the Navigation Task Group of the Water Framework Directive. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a European Union directive that aims to establish a framework for the protection and improvement of water quality in Europe. The WFD requires member states to manage their water resources in a sustainable manner and ensure that all bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, reach good ecological…

Consultation on EU Climate target for 2040

Climate change remains one of the main challenges for the European Union and while the current focus has been on the 2030 targets with corresponding legislation in place, the next step is to define an intermediate target for 2040. The Commission has started the process to establish this 2040 climate target putting the EU firmly on a path towards climate neutrality by 2050. The initiative will be supported by an in-depth impact assessment, which will…