Japan survey finds unclear, potentially deceptive eco-labels

TOKYO - A survey by the Consumer Affairs Agency has found that dozens of eco-labels on products and services in Japan lack clear claims, with some falsely suggesting third-party certification.

The country's first environment-friendly label, a type of advertisement, was Eco Mark, established by the Japan Environment Association in 1989, while labels without third-party certification began to appear in the late 1990s, according to the agency.