Industry News
January 2010
feDSA briefing
FEDSA and WFDSA meetings in Paris Chaired by Richard Berry, the WFDSA Secretaries’ Seminar took place in Paris on 16th September 2009. FEDSA and 16 DSAs from all over the world were represented, including representatives from the largest European DSAs. John Holloway, Executive Director of the Australian DSA, and Philippe Jacquelinet, President of the French DSA, gave an overview of their respective associations.
Other topics discussed ranged from how best to conduct market surveys to Code promotion and how to prevent unfair recruiting practices on the Internet. Participants benefited from wide-ranging discussions and exchanged best practices on many key issues of importance to national DSAs.
FEDSA Execom and Legal Affairs Committee met, respectively, on 14th and 15th September 2009. The Execom considered and agreed the basis of a new constitution for FEDSA. The revised articles and bye-laws propose a simplified framework for FEDSA – more in line with constitutions of most of the European trade associations and trade federations that represent EU business interests in Brussels.
The new articles and bye-laws will be submitted to the Board of Delegates at an EGM scheduled for 16th December 2009 in Brussels.
FEDSA’s growing influence on EU legislation FEDSA Chairman Richard Berry met recently with Giuseppe Abbamonte, Head of DGSANCO in the European Commission, to discuss certain aspects of the proposed Consumer Rights Directive, which could prejudice much-needed entrepreneurial activity in the EU.
Although the future of this directive is now largely in the hands of MEPs and national governments, FEDSA received assurances that the Commission would support changes that now also have the support of a growing number of EU Member States.
The EU of the Lisbon design: What’s in it for direct selling?
After eight years of soul-searching and intricate manoeuvres to revamp the EU, the Lisbon Treaty finally came into force. The new top posts the Treaty creates have already been filled, while a new College of Commissioners still needs to be appointed. The European Parliament elected in June has finished its internal organisation and is now running. Many look with great expectations at the report on the internal market that Professor Mario Monti will present in April 2010.
These developments seem remote from direct selling, but they have an impact. First, a new Consumer Commissioner will be named to oversee the deliberations of the proposed Consumer Rights Directive that aims to review the EC’s direct selling regulation of the 1980s. He or she will exert great influence on how and in what detail our trade is regulated.
The European Parliament’s powers are re-enforced by the Lisbon Treaty, but national parliaments, too, are given a role in community lawmaking. Also, because more transparency is imposed on the Council of Minister’s deliberations, the style of EU debate will change and, perhaps, the outcome of the legislative procedure, on which much depends for the future of direct selling in the EU. FEDSA is following very closely this process conveying the views of our members to decision-makers in Brussels.
It is encouraging in this context that the internal market project is being revived. Launched in 1992, FEDSA’s 20th anniversary in 2012 makes people think afresh of the virtues of free European trade and of the many obstacles that still hamper the full realisation of its potential. Direct selling as a part of the EU’s retailing mix could help to bring about these advantages. The objective of creating a ‘retail internal market’ should, therefore, include modern and easy-tohandle rules for direct selling. FEDSA will strive for a policy concept for direct selling that is embedded in this wider context and that guarantees direct selling’s place in business-to-consumer markets.
FEDSA participated in NL International’s Annual Congress in Auxerre FEDSA participated in NL International’s Annual Congress in Auxerre (Bourgogne) on 18th October 2009 to mark the 6th anniversary of the creation of this French multinational direct selling business.
Accompanied by Marie Lacroix, Richard Berry and Jens Karsten made warmly received presentations to over 2,500 enthusiastic NL Distributors from France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. In March 2009, NL International became a FEDSA Corporate member and will host the next European CEOs meeting in Metz in February 2010. (http://www.nleurope.com)
