7
Jul
2025
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Product safety and regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the explosion of online commerce has revolutionised the way we buy and sell, it has broken down barriers and created new opportunities, but it has also exposed the single market to problems for European citizens and businesses. Never before has it been so easy, with a simple click, to buy a product on the other side of the world and receive it comfortably at home in a few days. The numbers speak for themselves: in 2024 alone, more than 4.6 billion items entered the Union, with a declared value below the duty-free threshold of €150. We're talking about 12 million articles a day. It is an impressive mass of goods, which too often escapes control, jeopardising the safety of consumers and undermining the competitiveness of European companies, which operate in accordance with very precise rules. E-commerce is a market that we must govern and face responsibly, because behind every package that crosses a border without adequate controls there are shadow areas that concern security, legality and fairness. For consumers, the dangers are real: unsafe products, widespread manipulative practices and lack of guarantees of reliability. It is not acceptable for European citizens to be exposed to health risks or scams when shopping online. Freedom of choice must go hand in hand with the protection of safety, health and rights. Strong information and education is needed to make citizens consumers aware and accountable. For companies, on the other hand, especially small and medium-sized ones, the competition becomes harder and often unfair every day: It is unacceptable that those who comply with strict fiscal, environmental and social regulations should compete with non-European operators who do not comply with the same production standards and are also able to circumvent controls. We cannot allow exposure to unregulated markets to compromise the future of our business fabric. Looking at the customs authorities, the challenge is immense: They manage millions of parcels every day and are often forced to do more, but with limited resources. It is clear that this model is no longer sustainable. We need state-of-the-art technological tools, greater European awareness and a shared strategic vision. The current European regulatory framework is valid, but we need to apply it rigorously, strengthen it if necessary, and strengthen the supervisory authorities by appropriate means. Online platforms also need – of course, especially those based outside the European Union – to ensure traceability and transparency. For this reason, it is essential to strengthen the role of the person responsible for product safety and to introduce tools such as the digital passport, which makes it possible to verify origin and conformity before placing on the market. We hope for an acceleration of the reform of the Union Customs Code and we agree with the introduction of the figure of the presumed importer, just as we agree with the elimination of the current duty-free threshold below EUR 150, which unfortunately has become a privileged channel for circumventing controls. At the same time, a European customs authority needs to be set up, with a digital centre for monitoring flows to combat fraudulent practices. We are also in favour of the proposal to introduce a management fee for sellers to cover the costs of control activities. In view of these problems, sanctions must be harmonised at European level, so that those who break the rules do not find loopholes at national level. Finally, in the interest of our fellow citizens, we must firmly combat misleading marketing and manipulative techniques that push our consumers towards compulsive and unconscious behaviour, compromising their freedom of choice and putting their health and economic well-being at risk. Dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, this report is a decisive step towards a fairer, safer and more transparent digital market: It is not a question of stopping innovation, but of guiding it with clear and sustainable rules, because defending the single market means defending a European model based on legality, responsibility and the protection of people, it means contributing to strengthening the strategic autonomy of the Union, which is today an essential condition for a strong and credible Europe on an increasingly global scenario.