New Consumer Agenda 2030 — COM(2025) 848 (EU consumer empowerment plan)
Communication COM(2025) 848 final (19 Nov 2025) that frames EU action on consumer protection towards 2030. Soft law on sustainable consumption, digital fairness and enforcement.
Context
The New Consumer Agenda 2030 is the policy communication through which the Commission sets out its consumer protection programme towards 2030. It is not directly binding law: it is a policy framework that announces legislative reviews and priorities for the coming years. For textiles, the sustainable consumption strand (with the announced ban on PFAS in outdoor garments) and its articulation with the DPP, the ECGT and the right to repair are of particular interest.
Origin in law and legal status
Communication of the European Commission adopted in Brussels on 19 November 2025, identifier COM(2025) 848 final, with associated staff working document SWD(2025) 848 final. Canonical ELI `https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0848`. Legal nature: policy communication of the Commission (not directly binding, programmatic framework). It commits the Commission to bringing forward specific legislative proposals within the announced timelines.
Five thematic strands
Cost of living and cross-border purchases: financial literacy, European digital identity wallets, roaming with candidate countries.
Digital fairness and online protection: dedicated legislative proposal to address manipulative designs and dark patterns affecting consumers (legislative proposal fourth quarter 2026).
Sustainable consumption: promotion of the harmonised notice on the legal guarantee of conformity and of the harmonised label on the commercial guarantee of durability (third quarter 2026), European online platform for repair (by 2028), DPP, ECGT and right to repair.
Enforcement and redress: review of Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 on cooperation between consumer authorities (legislative proposal fourth quarter 2026), European Products Act (third quarter 2026), review of the General Product Safety Regulation (2027).
Governance and dialogue: Ministerial Forum on Consumer Protection, enforcement dialogues on cooperation (2026) and on general safety (2027).
«Of EU consumers, 67% reported that the cost of sustainable products prevented them from buying them. 62% indicated confusion as to the identification of sustainable options and distrust of environmental information.»
Timeline
Adoption of COM(2025) 848
The Commission adopts the New Consumer Agenda 2030 and the Action Plan.
Harmonised label on the commercial guarantee of durability
Promotion of the label under Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/1960 applicable from 27 Sep 2026.
European Products Act
Legislative proposal on enforcement of product safety legislation.
Review of Reg. 2017/2394 on consumer cooperation
Legislative proposal.
Dark patterns and minors proposal
Initiative to address manipulative online designs.
Review of the General Product Safety Regulation
Evaluation and enforcement dialogues.
European online platform for repair
Launch under the mandate of Art. 7 of Directive (EU) 2024/1799.
Applied case
A European textile brand with an outdoor wear line (technical waterproof jackets) audits its exposure to the New Consumer Agenda 2030.
PFAS strand: identifies whether its outdoor wear range uses membranes or treatments with PFAS compounds. Documents suppliers and a possible substitution roadmap to anticipate the announced restriction.
ECGT and repair strand: prepares the use of the harmonised notice on the legal guarantee of conformity and of the harmonised label on the commercial guarantee of durability (Reg. (EU) 2025/1960, applicable from 27 Sep 2026) on the product sheet and packaging.
Product safety strand: identifies whether its catalogue includes accessories or electronic components that could fall under the future European Products Act (legislative proposal Q3 2026).
Common mistakes
The New Consumer Agenda 2030 is NOT directly binding law.
It is a policy communication of the Commission (COM(2025) 848 final), not a legislative act. It announces specific legislative proposals with an indicative timetable. The material obligations for companies continue to flow from the directives and regulations in force and from the acts adopted under the announcements.
The PFAS ban on outdoor garments is NOT approved: it is a policy announcement.
The Agenda states that the Commission "will examine the possibility" of banning PFAS in consumer uses, including outdoor clothing. It sets neither a date nor a definitive perimeter. The operational procedure would be channelled under Reg. (EC) 1907/2006 REACH (ECHA restriction process) or via ESPR delegated acts. Outdoor brands must monitor the active procedure, not assume that it already applies.
The Agenda does NOT amend the ECGT, the DPP or the right to repair.
The Agenda articulates those pieces in force (Dir. (EU) 2024/825 ECGT, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 ESPR and the future textile DPP, Dir. (EU) 2024/1799 right to repair, Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/1960 harmonised durability label) as part of its programme but does not amend them. It only announces complementary actions: the European online platform for repair under Art. 7 of Dir. (EU) 2024/1799, the possible Recommendation on ecodesign features in e-commerce, etc.
The figures in the document are attributable to specific official sources.
The canonical figures in the document (77% of Europeans feel climate responsibility, 67% blocked by the price of sustainable products, 62% confused by sustainable options, 75% dangerous products non-EU) have an attributed source in footnotes 18, 19 and 24 of the communication: Eurobarometer 2022 SP527, Consumer Conditions Survey 2024 and Safety Gate system data. Any editorial use must cite the original source verbatim, not the Agenda as the primary source of the figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Consumer Agenda 2030?
Communication of the European Commission (COM(2025) 848 final, Brussels 19 Nov 2025) that defines the EU consumer protection programme towards 2030. It has the nature of a non-directly-binding policy framework but commits the Commission to bringing forward the specific announced legislative proposals with an indicative timetable.
What does the Agenda change for a European textile brand?
It announces three relevant fronts: (1) study of a PFAS ban on outdoor clothing (no fixed date, via REACH or ESPR), (2) promotion of the harmonised notice on the legal guarantee and of the harmonised label on the commercial guarantee of durability (Q3 2026, complementary to Reg. (EU) 2025/1960 applicable from 27 Sep 2026), (3) European online platform for repair under Art. 7 Dir. (EU) 2024/1799 (by 2028).
Does the Agenda impose any obligation from the moment of its adoption?
Not directly. It obliges the Commission to bring forward the announced legislative proposals but does not impose material obligations on companies. Company obligations flow from the directives and regulations in force (ECGT, ESPR, right to repair, ECGT harmonised guarantee Reg. 2025/1960) and from the subsequent legislative acts adopted under the announcements.
What canonical figures does the Agenda use to justify the sustainability strand?
In its note 18 it cites Eurobarometer 2022 SP527: 77% of Europeans feel a responsibility to act to limit climate change. In its note 19 it cites the Consumer Conditions Survey 2024: 67% report that the cost of sustainable products prevents them from buying them and 62% indicate confusion in identifying sustainable options. Any editorial use must attribute the figures to the original source.
When is the PFAS ban on outdoor garments foreseen?
The Agenda only announces that the Commission "will examine the possibility" of banning PFAS in consumer uses, including outdoor clothing. It sets no date for a legislative proposal. The operational procedure would be channelled under Reg. (EC) 1907/2006 REACH (ECHA restriction) or via ESPR delegated acts. It is advisable to monitor the official Commission page and the public consultation process.
Fuentes oficiales
- European Commission · Brussels 19.11.202519 nov 2025Commission Communication (policy framework)
- European Commission · Brussels 19.11.202519 nov 2025Supporting working document
- European Parliament and Council · OJEU OJ L of 6.3.202428 feb 2024Referenced standard in force
- European Parliament and Council · OJEU OJ L of 10.7.202413 jun 2024Referenced standard in force
