The government is being asked to ban the concept of "eco-leather"

The government is being asked to ban the use of the terms "eco-leather", "ecomech", and "vegan leather" by sellers in order to protect consumers' rights from tricks and counterfeiting. The restriction must be in effect until the technical regulations of the Customs Union 017/2011 are amended with definitions of these concepts. Such recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers were prepared by the Federation Council Committee on Rules and Organization of Parliamentary Activities, headed by Vyacheslav Timchenko, following parliamentary hearings held in the upper house of Parliament in early June.

In the document (Izvestia has it) It is said that a number of problems remain in the field of consumer protection today, which are typical for all regions of Russia. This includes the sale of low-quality and unsafe products on marketplaces and online platforms, as well as the availability of clothing, shoes, etc., made of synthetic materials, while designated as natural, on the consumer market. For these purposes, sellers use concepts such as "eco-leather", "vegan leather" and the like. However, these products have nothing to do with real leather and mislead consumers.

The initiative is supported by the Public Council of Rospotrebnadzor and the Russian Union of Tanners and Shoe Manufacturers (RSCO).

In this case, we are talking about an unfair marketing technique that borders on misleading and deceiving consumers, Oleg Pavlov, head of the public Council at Rospotrebnadzor, head of the Public Consumer Initiative, who participated in the parliamentary hearings in the Federation Council, told Izvestia.

"The names "eco-leather", "ecomech", "vegan leather" give customers the impression that they are dealing with natural products, but this is not the case. Unfortunately, due to the lack of regulation and an outright ban, unscrupulous entrepreneurs are using this more and more, in absolutely various fields from making clothes to equipping car interiors," the social activist explained.

He also noted that he receives a large number of complaints from Russians who could not figure out the substitution of concepts and were disappointed in the purchase of goods.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Put on pause: the government is being asked to introduce a temporary ban on the concept of "eco-leather"