For input Updated Memorandum Consumer brands for a trusted digital market place

Why updating our Memorandum? Context The Digital Single Market is a top priority of the new European Commission “Europe’s path to growth is paved with tablets and smartphones.” A top priority for the European Parliament “Too many barriers still block the free flow of goods and online services across national borders The most serious impediments relate to (…) geographical restrictions (access to products sold electronically which are restricted to certain geographic areas).” Brands are targeted by other sectors Choice in eCommerce blames brands for creating barriers online The need to take into account the outcome of our soft outreach

“Too many barriers still block the free flow of goods and online services across national borders” “The most serious impediments relate to (…) geographical restrictions (access to products sold electronically which are restricted to certain geographic areas).”

Manufactures and brands act against SMEs against online trade against cross-border trade against consumers What are we talking about today? Manufactures and brands act against SMEs against cross-border trade against online against consumers It is not a gut feeling – EU Parliament is saying it as well

LIST OF MOST CALLED BRANDS Here you can see the 100 most called brands and manufactors doing any kind of restrictions on the internet. Our survey brings out a list of more than 500 brands. based on Survey by Choice in eCommerce (n: 2.116; Nov 2013)

Alleged barriers from brands these actors are against Unsatisfactory justifications for different discounts online and offline (dual pricing?) Territorial supply constraints backed by threats to stop supply Abusive interpretation of the guidelines on vertical restraints (excessive requirements to sell products via online platforms)

Policy recommendation 1 Creating a good governance system of the digital value chain to boost consumer trust Applying equivalent rules and regulatory principles online &offline taking into account the specificities of the online environment Ensuring that e-commerce platforms take more active measures to prevent the sale of counterfeits goods online Giving brand owners better tools to obtain the removal of counterfeit goods when they are on sale Enhancing consumers’ protection against unfair commercial practices online, at EU level

Policy recommendation 2 Creating a truly European digital market place, by removing the numerous barriers to cross border e-commerce resulting from different regulatory frameworks in the EU Clarifying and adapting the regulatory framework on e-privacy and data protection Adopting the other measures identified in the Commission’s e-commerce communication: Alternative dispute resolutions, improving parcel delivery , safer online payments and e-signatures…etc

Policy recommendation 3 Providing reliable consumer information online, by improving and managing product data online Pursuing the development of a single source of concise and accurate product data, which consumers can trust, based on GS1 Source standard Where appropriate making use of online consumer information to simplify on-pack non-commercial non-essential consumer communication thus avoiding consumer confusion Ensuring that the information provided by comparison tools online is clear, transparent and impartial

What do we want from you? Other issues to raise/point to make? Examples to substantiate our claim that brands are major digital stakeholders, e.g.: