Home / Regulation / EU Green Claims Directive
🇪🇺 European Union

If you sell into the EU, you need to fix your claims.

Regulation is moving fast against claims that aren't backed by evidence. New EU rules require every product and environmental claim to be substantiated and independently verified before it goes on a label or ad.

EU Green Claims Directive regulation hero
Region
EU 27
Enforced by
National authorities
Applies to
Brands selling to the EU
Status
Phased rollout
What it is

Claims now require evidence.

The direction of EU regulation is clear: claims you can't prove are on their way out. The Green Claims Directive sets a single rule across all 27 member states - if you make a claim, you must back it with robust, independent evidence before it goes live. It's the leading edge of a wider shift toward evidence-based marketing.

It reaches the everyday words supplement and food brands rely on - “clean”, “natural”, “pure”, “clinically proven”. Generic claims with no substantiation become prohibited, and self-declared labels without third-party backing lose their meaning.

In short: a claim is only safe to make if you can show the data behind it. Evidence moves from “nice to have” to a legal requirement.
EU Green Claims Directive what is it
Why it matters

Why this matters for your brand.

Fines & penalties

National authorities can levy significant fines - proposed at up to a percentage of annual EU turnover - for unsubstantiated claims.

Removal from sale

Non-compliant products and campaigns can be ordered off the shelf and out of market until the claim is fixed.

Reputational damage

Enforcement rulings are public. One action over an unprovable claim can undo years of brand trust.

What you must do

What compliance asks of you.

1
Substantiate before you claim

Every environmental claim needs robust, science-based evidence held on file before use.

2
Independent verification

Claims must be checked by an independent third party - not self-declared by the brand.

3
No vague green claims

Generic terms like “eco” or “green” without specific, proven backing are not allowed.

4
Keep the evidence current

Documentation must be maintained and re-checked as formulas and sourcing change.

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From requirement to proof

How the shield covers you.

You need to
Prove a “clean” or “natural” claim
Defacto delivers
Independent lab data on the exact product you sell
You need to
Show your working to a regulator
Defacto delivers
A published report and signed audit trail per claim
You need to
Cover every SKU and every market
Defacto delivers
One verification workflow across your whole range
What we believe
Rebuilding trust in commerce.

At Defacto, we believe transparency is the fix for a broken trust layer. We built the verification infrastructure - independent labs, PhD review and a public report - so brands and shoppers can see exactly what's inside.

FAQ

Questions brands often ask us.

Any company making environmental claims to consumers in the EU - including non-EU brands that sell into the EU market.

Any message suggesting a product is better for the environment - “natural”, “eco-friendly”, “recyclable”, “climate neutral”, and similar wording on labels or in ads.

No. The direction of travel is clear: claims need independent substantiation, not a self-declared badge.

We turn each claim into independently tested, published lab data with a signed audit trail - exactly the kind of evidence the Directive requires, for every SKU.

It is being phased in across the EU. The direction is already set, and brands that prepare evidence now avoid a scramble when enforcement tightens. Building substantiation early is the safest path.

National authorities can levy significant fines - proposed at up to a percentage of annual EU turnover - and order non-compliant products or campaigns off the market until the claim is fixed.

Before. The rule requires robust, independent evidence to be held on file before a claim goes live - not gathered after a complaint.

Yes. While it targets environmental claims, the broader regulatory shift is against any unsubstantiated claim. Supplement and food brands using words like 'clean', 'natural' or 'clinically proven' are squarely in scope.

Robust, science-based evidence from an independent source - typically accredited lab testing on the actual product, documented and kept current as formulas change.

Only if you can prove it. Generic terms without specific, verifiable backing are treated as misleading. Independent lab data lets you keep the wording with proof behind it.

Turn compliance into a selling point.

Independent lab data, published on your product page - the evidence regulators want and the proof customers trust.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Regulations change and enforcement varies by market - confirm specifics with qualified counsel.

Founder call

Have a chat with the founders.

Jonas Karosas Jonas KarosasFounder & CEO
Deivydas Daugela Deivydas DaugelaFounding COO

You made it this far. That probably means you care about trust as much as we do. Book a founder call and let's see whether Defacto is the right fit for your product.

  • A look at how verification works for your catalog
  • Real examples from brands like yours
  • A clear, honest answer on cost and timing

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