Consumer's Telegram May 2026

Insert of n. 38 - Editorial office: Centro Europeo Consumatori (European Consumer Centre Italy - Bolzano office)

Sustainability

More sustainable, replaceable and recyclable batteries: what is changing in Europe

The European Union’s new rules on batteries aim to make these products more sustainable over their entire life cycle – from raw material sourcing to disposal, recycling and reuse. For consumers, this means more information, greater traceability and less of a throwaway culture: the Regulation introduces new labelling requirements, minimum recycled‑content targets, collection targets for waste batteries and, more generally, the principle that batteries built into products must be removable and replaceable. In Italy, the rules were transposed into national law by Legislative Decree No. 29/2026, which has been in force since 7 March 2026.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/summary/sustainability-rules-for-batteries-and-waste-batteries.html

Transport

Road tolls in Austria:

all the latest changes and what to watch out for
Since January 2023, the European Consumer Centre (ECC) Italy has received more than 2,400 enquiries on road tolls in Austria. Many drivers remain uncertain, and several important changes have since been introduced. The first concerns the sticker vignette itself: from January 2027, only the digital vignette will be valid and available. The second change relates to price increases: both the prices of the vignette and of additional tolled sections, and the amount of the payment demands issued by ASFINAG for missing or incorrect toll payments, have been raised – the fine increased from €120.00 to €200.00. To avoid unpleasant surprises, ECC Italy has published an updated information page.
https://www.euroconsumatori.org/de/verkehrsstrafen_mautgebuehren_broschueren_maut_vignette_osterreich


Consumption and sustainability

Halting greenwashing:

new rules for truly sustainable purchases
On 24 March 2026, Legislative Decree No. 30/2026 entered into force in Italy, transposing the EU Directive on empowering consumers for the green transition. The Decree targets misleading environmental practices and aims to make information at the point of purchase more transparent. Specifically in focus are general, unsubstantiated environmental claims, as well as practices that obscure or present in an unclear way key information on durability, reparability, availability of spare parts and software updates. The provisions apply from 27 September 2026: infringements may lead to fines of up to €10 million or, in cross‑border cases, up to 4% of annual turnover.
https://www.affarieuropei.gov.it/it/comunicazione/notizie/cdm-5-novembre-2025/


CASE OF THE MONTH
A consumer from Austria had booked a three‑day stay in a villa with a swimming pool in Italy for eight people. On arrival, however, she was given only a simple holiday apartment, whose location and facilities differed significantly from the services promised: poorly maintained outdoor areas, inadequate cleaning, faulty equipment and too few sleeping places for the entire group. The alternative accommodation offered was also not suitable, so the group decided to leave; nevertheless, the full amount was charged. After the initial complaint proved unsuccessful, the consumer contacted the European Consumer Centre in her country. Following the intervention of ECC Italy, the company finally offered a voucher for a two‑night stay for all eight people in a five‑star hotel of the same chain – a solution which the consumer accepted.