SIST EN 16935:2017
(Main)Bio-based products - B2C reporting and communication - Requirements for claims
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard specifies requirements for transparent and non-misleading business-to consumer communication of characteristics of bio-based products by means of labelling and claims. It does not specify requirements for bio-based products.
This European Standard is intended to be used as a tool to generate and transfer information to the consumer and/or as an input for product-specific standards and certification schemes.
Business to business communication is covered by FprEN 16848.[1]
NOTE This standard is applicable to all claims which are based on or make reference to bio-based content (e.g. vegetable-based, plant-based).
- Status
- Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 29-Jan-2016
- Publication Date
- 24-May-2017
- Technical Committee
- I13 - Imaginarni 13
- Current Stage
- 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 19-May-2017
- Due Date
- 24-Jul-2017
- Completion Date
- 25-May-2017
Overview
EN 16935:2017 (CEN) - "Bio-based products - Requirements for Business-to-Consumer communication and claims" defines rules for clear, transparent and non‑misleading labelling and claims about bio‑based products in business‑to‑consumer (B2C) contexts. It does not set product performance or composition requirements; instead it provides a harmonized framework to generate and transfer information to consumers and to feed into product‑specific standards and certification schemes.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope and intent
- Applies to any claim referencing bio‑based content (e.g., plant‑based, vegetable‑based).
- Business‑to‑business communication is covered separately by EN 16848.
- Principles
- Communication must follow ISO 14020 principles for environmental labels and be transparent and verifiable.
- Bio‑based content reporting
- Must declare a minimum percentage of biomass relative to total dry mass, formatted as “minimum X % bio‑based” or “> X % bio‑based”.
- Determination methods: EN 16785‑1 (radiocarbon/elemental) or prEN 16785‑2 (material balance).
- As an alternative in specific cases, bio‑based carbon (EN 16640) may be used when applicable.
- Product vs packaging
- Claims must clearly indicate whether they refer to the product, packaging or packaging components.
- Component claims are allowed only if the component is separable and separation instructions are provided.
- Sustainability statements
- Any sustainability claim must be limited to the biomass fraction and referenced to recognized standards or certification schemes (see EN 16751).
- End‑of‑life information
- If consumer disposal is relevant (e.g., packaging), recommended end‑of‑life options must be provided.
- Biodegradability claims require relevant, internationally recognized test methods or standards.
- Additional information
- LCA‑related claims must be based on EN 16760 or other recognized standards; Product Category Rules (PCRs) may be referenced where relevant.
- Verification and responsibility
- The organization placing the product on the market must ensure claims are correct, verifiable and accessible to consumers.
- Examples
- Annex A provides sample label and display formats.
Applications and Users
- Who uses it
- Manufacturers, brand owners, marketers, packaging designers, retailers, certification bodies and standards developers.
- Practical uses
- Designing compliant product labels and marketing claims.
- Feeding standardized information into certification schemes or product standards.
- Reducing consumer confusion between “bio‑based” and other “bio‑” terms (e.g., biodegradable).
- Ensuring consistent B2C communication across EU markets.
Related Standards (select)
- EN 16785‑1 / prEN 16785‑2 - Bio‑based content determination
- EN 16760 - Life Cycle Assessment for bio‑based products
- EN 16575 - Vocabulary for bio‑based products
- EN 16848 - B2B communication of bio‑based product characteristics
- EN 16751 - Biomass sustainability aspects
- EN ISO 14020 / 14021 - Environmental labels and self‑declared claims
Keywords: EN 16935:2017, bio-based products, business-to-consumer communication, bio-based content, labelling, sustainability, end-of-life, CEN.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 15-Jul-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN 16935:2017 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Bio-based products - B2C reporting and communication - Requirements for claims". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies requirements for transparent and non-misleading business-to consumer communication of characteristics of bio-based products by means of labelling and claims. It does not specify requirements for bio-based products. This European Standard is intended to be used as a tool to generate and transfer information to the consumer and/or as an input for product-specific standards and certification schemes. Business to business communication is covered by FprEN 16848.[1] NOTE This standard is applicable to all claims which are based on or make reference to bio-based content (e.g. vegetable-based, plant-based).
This European Standard specifies requirements for transparent and non-misleading business-to consumer communication of characteristics of bio-based products by means of labelling and claims. It does not specify requirements for bio-based products. This European Standard is intended to be used as a tool to generate and transfer information to the consumer and/or as an input for product-specific standards and certification schemes. Business to business communication is covered by FprEN 16848.[1] NOTE This standard is applicable to all claims which are based on or make reference to bio-based content (e.g. vegetable-based, plant-based).
SIST EN 16935:2017 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 13.020.55 - Biobased products. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN 16935:2017 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN ISO 14021:2026, SIST EN 16785-2:2018, SIST EN 16760:2016, SIST EN 16575:2014, SIST EN 16848:2017, SIST EN ISO 14020:2024, SIST EN 16785-1:2016, SIST EN ISO 14021:2016, SIST-TP CEN/TR 17611:2021, SIST EN 17228:2019, SIST-TP CEN/TR 17612:2021, SIST EN 16766:2018. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
SIST EN 16935:2017 is associated with the following European legislation: Standardization Mandates: M/492. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
SIST EN 16935:2017 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.WUGLWYHBiobasierte Produkte - Berichterstattung und Kommunikation zwischen Unternehmen und Verbrauchern - Anforderungen an AnbieteraussagenProduits biosourcés - Déclaration et communication en B2C - Exigences relatives aux allégationsBio-based products - B2C reporting and communication - Requirements for claims13.020.55Biološki izdelkiBiobased productsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16935:2017SIST EN 16935:2017en,fr,de01-julij-2017SIST EN 16935:2017SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16935
May
t r s y ICS
s uä r t rä w w English Version
Bioæbased products æ Requirements for BusinessætoæConsumer communication and claims Produits biosourcés æ Exigences relatives à la communication et aux déclarations entre entreprise et consommateur
Biobasierte Produkte æ Anforderungen an die Aussagen von Unternehmen und die Kommunikation zwischen Unternehmen und Verbrauchern This European Standard was approved by CEN on
s u February
t r s yä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Serbiaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and United Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels
t r s y CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s x { u wã t r s y ESIST EN 16935:2017
Display of information - Examples . 9 A.1 General . 9 A.2 Display examples . 9 Bibliography . 13
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