New EU regulations risk triggering massive waste of food and other products in Swedish stores. The business community is now warning that goods worth hundreds of millions of kronor may have to be thrown away if the government does not quickly introduce a transition period.
Swedish companies are sounding the alarm that new EU regulations on environmental and sustainability claims could have far-reaching consequences starting at the turn of the year. The reason is that the government has not yet clarified how products already in stock will be handled once the new regulations take effect.
In a joint op-ed in Daily News Nine representatives of the retail sector write that the consequences could be far-reaching if no transition period is implemented.
”Unless the government quickly introduces a transition period, we will be forced to throw away goods—primarily food—at an enormous cost.”, they write.
They point out that store shelves, hotels, restaurants, and warehouses are already stocked with products that were properly labeled when they were manufactured but that, after the turn of the year, may no longer meet the new requirements. According to the article, companies that continue to sell these products may face heavy penalties.
Requires a transition period
The business community is therefore calling for a national transition period so that existing products can be sold off rather than destroyed. The debaters also point out that Finland has already implemented a six-month national transition period for similar regulations.
They also argue that the EU's regulatory framework risks undermining its own purpose.
”One policy aims to reduce waste. The other risks increasing it. The logic doesn’t add up.”, they write.
The government is urged to take action
The op-ed is backed by, among others, the Swedish Trade Federation, the Swedish Grocery Retailers Association, the Swedish Federation of Business Owners, the Swedish Food Industry Association, Visita, and the Swedish Pharmacy Association. The organizations are now urging the government to provide clear guidance as soon as possible and to establish a transition period to avoid the widespread disposal of perfectly good food, hygiene products, and other goods.
Total madness in Brussels,
As usual, one is tempted to say!
The idiocy in Brussels is reaching new heights. Someone should play "Citizen Vigilante" in the European Parliament.
SWEXIR SWEXIT SWEXIT
SWEXIT, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. The EU has gotten too big for its boots.
As usual, whenever the EU comes up with new rules, it's just nonsense. SWEXIT NOW.
A major problem with the EU is that the large countries, such as Germany and France, have a strong belief in authority. I’ve worked a lot with French and German people, and they don’t have nearly the same relaxed relationship with their bosses as we do in Sweden. They usually just shrug their shoulders and simply obey. I think this is reflected in the absurd decisions pushed through by the EU.