RE: https://mastodon.thi.ng/@toxi/117474817880134546

🚨 Please read & act if you're running a small online shop in the EU or are even just a customer of one: These people need your urgent support. Otherwise the still new EU-wide packaging & waste regulation (PPWR) as it currently stands and is in full effect WILL kill most of the small businesses in the EU, incl. the livelihoods of artists, designers, illustrators, makers etc. who're trying to survive by selling physical goods online...

The legislation already came online in August, but it's been an utter bureaucratic mess! Official communication and clarification was even worse/absent for many weeks since rollout. An exemption from the most damaging parts for nano/micro-businesses was only voted[1][2] on in parliament today (almost 60(!) days after introduction), but with positive outcome. However, this support by parliament is only a small win and we need more pressure on MEPs to clarify the severity of this situation for the next round(s) of negotiation with the EU Council and member states.

To clarify: The most damaging & costly part of this regulation is the requirement for a legal representative in each EU country you want to ship to. The cost of a single representative is several hundred Euro per yer per country. If you're intending to sell to the entire EU, that's worst case 27 middlemen to pay, i.e. (tens of) thousands of Euro in just regulatory fees every single year. It's completely unrealistic, disproportional, nonsensical and against every aspect of the single market principles... It is now easier to sell to outside the EU than it is to sell inside the EU! Make it make sense!

The only people this regulation benefits are major retailers and the growing compliance industry!

Please boost for visibility! Thank you! 🙏

(Update: added link, punctuation)

[1] https://packaging-journal.de/en/the-european-parliament-wants-to-simplify-the-epr-requirements-only-for-small-companies/
[2] https://www.rapporteur.com/news/meps-back-small-business-exemption-from-costly-waste-reduction-compliance/

#PPWR #EU #SME #SaveMicroEnterprises #Legislation #WriteToYourMEP