Portugal risks being unable to apply the new European rules against "greenwashing," the practice of companies making misleading or exaggerated environmental claims about their products or services. The country should have transposed the European directive into national legislation by March, but to date no known law has been approved that meets this objective.
The European Commission has already opened an infringement procedure against Portugal due to this situation. This formal procedure indicates that the Community executive considers that the Portuguese State has not fulfilled its obligations within the established timeframe.
The new European rules will apply from 27 September, which means that, without national legislation to complement them, Portugal may face difficulties in monitoring and enforcing these standards in the national territory. The timely transposition of European directives is a legal obligation of the European Union Member States.
