[originaltext] Consumers are being confused and misled by the huge amount of e

Consumers are being confused and misled by the huge amount of environmental claims made by household products, according to a "green labeling" study published by Consumers International on Friday.
  The study was written and researched by Britain’s National Consumer Council (NCC) for lobby group Consumers International. It was funded by the German and Dutch governments and the European Commission.
  "While many good and useful claims are being made, it is clear there is a long way to go in ensuring shoppers are adequately informed about the environmental impact of products they buy," said Consumers International director Anna Fielder.
  The 10-country study surveyed product packaging in Britain, Western Europe, Scandinavia and the United States. It found that products sold in Germany and the United Kingdom made the most environmental claims on average.
  The report focused on claims made by specific products, such as detergents, insect sprays and some garden products. It did not test the claims, but compared them to labeling guidelines set by the International Standards Organization (ISO) in September 1999.
  The ISO labeling standards ban vague or misleading claims on product packaging, because terms such as "environmentally friendly" and "non-polluting" cannot be verified.