In addition, retailers should check in the future that the products offered on their platforms are legal and meet EU security standards, the “Handelsblatt” reported, citing a draft by the EU Commission. The trade association would very much welcome the step.
The Commission proposes to the Member States and the European Parliament “to raise a processing fee for articles of electronic trade”, which are imported into individual packages, writes the newspaper. With the fee, the customs authorities of the EU countries should be compensated for the higher costs that “arise in the proper control of these goods that are delivered directly to consumers.”
Trade Association supports Brussels “from full conviction”
In addition, online platforms should have to check in the future that the products offered on their platforms are legal and EU security standards correspond, the trade association (HV) in Vienna said. The EU Commission is supported in its proposal “out of conviction”, said HV managing director Rainer Will on Wednesday via broadcast. “It cannot be that European dealers and manufacturers have to adhere to strict requirements every day, while cheap platforms from China flood our market without effective control.” Fair competition is urgently needed, fees on packages from China are an important first step in the right direction. “The second step is the immediate cancellation of the 150-euro customs-free limit,” said another claim.
According to the newspaper report, the sheer quantity of low-cost package, which are sent directly to customers in Europe by sellers from China or other third countries to customers in Europe, also overloaded the customs offices. Consumer advocates and environmental authorities complain that therefore controls and a guarantee on European security and environmental standards are hardly possible.
Source: Nachrichten
