New website offers consumers information about certification marks

According to Mr Heemskerk, Dutch State Secretary, 'Insight into the reliability of certification marks (seals of approval)' is the objective of the certification marks website which, as of 2 April 2008, can be found via www.consuwijzer.nl, the Dutch government's information portal on consumer rights. Mr Heemskerk has recently launched the website at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Accreditation bodies may themselves apply to have their own certification marks included on the site. The idea behind this is that every respectable accreditation body will eventually wish to see its own certification mark on the site. About 40 applications to have certification marks placed on the website have already been received, which illustrates the initiative has got off to a good start. Examples of certification marks which can already be found on the site include: the KEMA-KEUR (offering product certification of electrical equipment and networks); Milieukeur (an eco-labelling programme backed by the Dutch government); the EKO-label (Organic Agriculture); and the Scharreleieren certification mark (confirming eggs are from extensive husbandry). On the site, it is simple for consumers to check what the certification marks stand for, how reliable they are and how this is tested.


The new website is one of the measures introduced by Mr Heemskerk in order to offer consumers greater transparency in respect of certification marks and to improve the reliability of these marks. In addition, once the legislative proposal Oneerlijke Handelspraktijken (Dishonest Trade Practices) has become effective, the Netherlands Consumer Authority will be able to take action against both certification marks which incorrectly claim to have specific characteristics and against companies which make use of certification marks without permission. The Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit (Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) is already authorised to take action against any unjustifiable health claims made about foodstuffs.
The Certification Marks site has been set up in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Dutch Ministry for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.



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