Commission to investigate planned obsolescence

The European Commission will begin an investigation into products that have been designed to have limited lifespans, environment commissioner Karmenu Vella said on Monday.

The Commission will put in place an independent testing programme to identify such products and take action to clamp down on the practice, known as planned obsolescence, Mr Vella told the European Parliament’s environment committee. This is part of wider plans to fight misleading product claims and to ensure that existing standards “are observed in full”.