Retail industry body EuroCommerce is calling for a change in the notification procedure of national laws under the European Commission's Services Directive, which the group says is currently having a negative effect on the retail and wholesale sector.
EU ambassadors are considering a proposal to introduce a system that would allow the Commission and stakeholders to have a chance to comment on new national rules aimed at regulating services before they are adopted.
“The present system under the Services Directive for notifying national measures, many of which can result in real difficulties for retailers and may not be in line with Single Market legislation, simply does not work," said Christian Verschueren, director-general of EuroCommerce.
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EuroCommerce notes that the current notification procedure is inadequate for the sectors affected, such as retail, and for governments seeking to introduce new regulation.
The organisation is suggesting that this system be replaced by something similar to the notification procedure that is in place for the trade of goods - the technical regulation information system (TRIS).
"Too often, Member State governments do not even follow the present rules and never notify new national rules on services. Where they do notify, this is often only long after the event," said Verschueren.
"The TRIS system for rules covering goods works well, and does not prevent governments regulating in the interest of consumers. I therefore really do not understand why doing the same in services should be such a difficult proposition for governments."
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
