German leather industry association VDL has won the authority to issue legal warnings to companies that misuse the term ‘leather’ in their advertising, writes Leatherbiz.

Under competition laws in Germany, some trade associations have the authority to issue legal warnings to companies whose marketing messages are likely to mislead or confuse consumers. VDL is now one of the organisations that have the right to take that action.

European Union-wide representative body COTANCE said it supported this development. It said: “We care about transparency, and we fight against unfair claims. We are not doing this to make money or gain notoriety, but simply because our affiliated companies are harmed when others misuse the term leather.”

COTANCE went on to say it is not against the practice of companies using alternative materials to make their product. “But we are against consumer deception,” it insisted.