Balearic shops: online giants must face equal rules
Balearic retailers are urging the European Union to make online giants selling from outside the EU meet the same rules as Spanish shops. The call came from Palma on Monday as the Federation of Balearic Trade Associations, known as Afedeco, welcomed planned customs reforms but said they still fall short. Its president, Joana Manresa, said firms selling to the same customers do not always compete on equal terms.
Afedeco said this is not a battle between high-street shops and online sales. It says the gap reaches beyond customs duties, while Spanish retailers must comply with tax, employment, environmental and product-safety requirements.
The EU changes would place more responsibility on major platforms handling goods from third countries and increase checks on the large number of small parcels entering the market. Afedeco says any business that regularly sells to European consumers should face comparable duties and controls, wherever it is based.
The federation warned that passing new rules will not be enough without staff and resources to inspect goods, carry out checks and pursue breaches. It wants further action on product safety and compliance, traceability, tax, environmental duties, consumer protection and effective platform liability.
Afedeco said it will keep taking its case to the authorities. Balearic retailers are ready to compete online too, it said, but want one market with the same rules for every seller.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com