Invitation to EucoLight workshop discussing non-compliance of online marketplaces
Recolight has been raising awareness of the increasing number of online marketplaces failing to comply with the WEEE Regulations for some time. Such non-compliant organisations are referred to as Free Riders, because they are not paying their share of recycling costs.
This is a problem for the whole of Europe and not just for the UK. Recolight is working with EucoLight, our European Association to highlight the scale of non-compliance and look for a resolution.
Research highlighting scale on non-compliance
Over the last year a series of events have been held and articles published by Recolight, EucoLight and its Members, and numerous trade associations.
The UK Lighting Industry Association purchased 6 electrical products from a leading online fulfillment house:
- 5 failed the electrical safety testing they performed.
- The failures were serious safety critical issues.
UK WEEE Scheme Forum has shown that:
- 76% of LED light bulbs,
- 88% of fitness watches,
- 54% of power tools
available on a leading online fulfillment house are in breach of UK regulations requiring the companies to pay for environmental costs of recycling.
The OECD has published a report into the scale of avoidance of recycling obligations on online platforms.
The EPR club hosted a debate bringing together representatives from EPR organisations, the European Commission, and online platforms.
Join the debate
The EucoLight workshop, on 17 October in Brussels, brings together policy makers and stakeholders from across Europe to present studies, reports, and discuss solutions.
Included on the agenda are representatives from the EU Commission who will share their work and plans moving forward.
The workshop will go beyond WEEE compliance and address other areas where online sellers are failing to comply. For example:
- product safety and non-compliance with safety standards,
- VAT non-payment,
- and internal market regulations.
See the agenda below for details of topics and the European associations who will be presenting.
The workshop is now fully booked, but due to the huge interest, you will be able to
WATCH THE EVENT LIVE ON YOUTUBE
Who should attend?
The workshop will be of interest to:
- Producers, consumers, distributors and online retail representatives
- Product testing organisations
- Journalists
- European and international institutions
- Market surveillance experts
- Extended producers responsibility organisations
Workshop Agenda
Welcome & Introduction
Hervé Grimaud – ESR/Récylum, EucoLight Chairman
Study on WEEE non-compliance in online marketplaces
Nigel Harvey – Recolight/ EucoLight Vice-Chairman
Online non-compliance in WEEE lighting
Stephan Riemann – Lightcycle/ EucoLight Treasurer
Study on safety testing of goods purchased through online and high street retailers
Ieva Vardanyan – The Lighting Industry Association
Packaging directive compliance of online marketplaces
Monika Romenska – EXPRA – Extended Producer Responsibility Alliance
Making online marketplaces “Joint and severally liable” for VAT payments
Richard Allen – RAVAS – Retailers Against VAT Abuse Schemes
“Fair business” in online sales
Triin Saag –EMOTA – The European eCommerce & Omni-Channel Trade Association
Product safety and liability for unsafe products in online sales
Léon Mölenberg – Ecommerce Europe
Developments at EU level: The Goods package, online marketplaces & market surveillance
Hans Ingels – DG Growth, EU Commission
Developments at EU level: Compliance of online marketplaces with Environmental legislation
Bettina Lorz – DG Environment, EU Commission
Market surveillance of online sales: the European industry perspective
Philippe Portalier – ORGALIME – The European Technology Industries
Market surveillance of online sales: the field experience of Observatory OPTIME in Italy
Davide Rossi – Optime Federation (Permanent observatory for the electronics market protection in Italy)
Closing and final remarks
Panel discussion
Workshop Timings and location
13:00 – Registration and coffee
13:30 – Workshop start
18:00 – Drinks reception and networking time
NH Hotel Brussels Berlaymon Boulevard Charlemagne 11-19, 1000 Brussels
The hotel is 15 minutes by taxi, and 20 mins by metro from Brussels Midi Station
