Vakcentrum beroepsorganisatie van zelfstandige detaillisten
Vakcentrum
Het Vakcentrum is de onafhankelijke belangenbehartiger en bewezen partner van zelfstandige detaillisten in food, non-food, fast moving consumer goods en franchisenemers.
ID: 391996534364-56
Lobbying Activity
Response to Consumer Agenda 2025-2030 and Action Plan on Consumers in the Single Market
7 Aug 2025
Vakcentrum is the Dutch trade association representing independent retail entrepreneurs in the food and non-food fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Our members are local SMEs, many of whom operate under franchise formulas. These entrepreneurs play a vital economic and social role in towns, cities, and neighborhoods across the Netherlands. We welcome the European Commissions initiative to develop a new EU Consumer Agenda for 20252030. A strong and forward-looking consumer policy is essential to building trust in the internal market and supporting responsible entrepreneurship. On behalf of our members, Vakcentrum advocates for a balanced approachone that ensures effective consumer protection while also providing practical and workable rules for businesses. For small and medium-sized enterprises to thrive and contribute to a fair and competitive market, the following principles are crucial: A fair and level playing field: All market participantsparticularly those operating online from outside the EUmust be subject to the same rules and standards. Effective enforcement is needed to combat unfair competition and ensure consumer trust. Recognition of local retailers' role: Local retail SMEs contribute significantly to vibrant, livable, and socially cohesive communities. New consumer-focused legislation must avoid undermining this contribution and instead reinforce their unique societal value. Workable digital and sustainability regulation: Legislation in areas such as digitalization and sustainability must be achievable for small entrepreneurs. This includes the need for proportionate requirements, adequate support measures, and realistic transition periods. Support for innovation and digital transformation: Policies should encourage innovation and digitalisation in retail, while avoiding disproportionate regulatory or administrative burdens that could hinder SME participation. Clear and consistent regulation, reduced administrative complexity, and robust enforcement mechanisms are key to supporting responsible entrepreneurship and maintaining a strong internal market. Vakcentrum and its members stand ready to contribute practical insights and perspectives. We encourage ongoing dialogue to ensure that the Consumer Agenda truly reflects the needs and realities of Europes diverse retail landscape.
Read full response7 May 2024
Dear Sir / Madam, We have filed a complaint with the Dutch Regulatory Authority (ATR) regarding the implementation and operation of the organic regulation in the Netherlands. It can be concluded from the ATR/Panteia report that the cause of the unnecessarily high regulatory burden lies in an interplay between the requirements of European regulations, their Dutch implementation and too limited input from the sector in the development of the European regulation. In its letter, the ATR indicates that it sees opportunities to reduce the regulatory burden and then provides an extensive list of possible European and national points for improvement. In the letter to parliament dated April 8, 2024, the minister informs about actions that have been taken since 2022. However, these are far from sufficient to have a noticeable effect in terms of administrative burden and overall costs of the certification obligation. Attached you find the report which Panteia wrote for the ATR. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Yours sincerely Vakcentrum Vicky van Egmond v.vanegmond@vakcentrum.nl
Read full response6 Oct 2023
Vakcentrum is the Dutch professional sector organization for independent SMEs retailers and franchisees, and represents the interests of the retailers who operate supermarkets, cheese shops and delicatessens, health and wholefood shops, convenience stores, off-licence drugstores, retailers selling household articles, cooking utensils, tableware and toys and franchisees in various sectors. Vakcentrum welcomes this delegated act which has the intent to rationalize and simplify reporting requirements. We see this as a necessary part of the SME relief package. We are pleased to see that an inflation correction of 25% and 28.6% (micro enterprises) will lead to a substantial alleviation of reporting requirements for companies ranging from 4.5% (micro), 9.9% (small lower end), 19.7% (small higher end), 10.3 % (medium sized) and 14% (large). Especially as these adjusted categories will also be used in other legislation as the CSRD. However, we regret that an inflation adjustment cannot take place automatically every year but instead is subject to a five-year assessment by the Commission on the basis of the Accounting Directive (Article 3(13)). We would like you to consider to do more frequent assessments instead of one every five years. Especially when high inflation percentages arise or other major disruptions take place on the EU single market. Conclusion SMEs are very important to boost economic growth and employment in the European Union. It is up to the relevant European and National authorities regulators to make sure that SMEs can operate in a favorable business environment, hardly being affected by less relevant CSRD and ESRS obligations. At the moment SMEs are dealing with too many administrative burdens. Further measures must be taken to reduce the impact of the CSRD/ESRS on these companies. The proposed exemption this field is not helpful since big companies are almost always part of the chain and obliged to forward their obligations to all partners in the chain Vakcentrum is happy to further explain its points of view and provide concrete suggestions.
Read full responseResponse to European Sustainability Reporting Standards
7 Jul 2023
Vakcentrum is the professional sector organisation for independent SMEs retailers and franchisees, and represents the interests of retailers who operate supermarkets, cheese shops and delicatessens, health and wholefood shops, convenience stores, off-licences and drugstores, retailers selling household articles, cooking utensils, tableware and toys and franchisees in various sectors In the Netherlands. Vakcentrum would like to use this opportunity to respond to the internet consultation of the draft Delegated Act regarding the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) set 1 published for public consultation on June 9, 2023. We appreciate the work done on the ESRS by the Commission in relation to the concerns raised by multiple stakeholder groups. The changes made to the material impact and the reduction in the large number of data points are a huge improvement. However, despite the fact that the CSRD and ESRS are mainly focused on larger companies, SMEs (not listed) will still be hugely impacted by the CSRD and the ESRS. The Regulation will lead to extra administrative burdens, legal and organisational implications and in the worst case scenario, possible imposed fines. Our main concerns focus on the extra administrative and organisational burdens caused by the CSRD and ESRS caused by the trickle-down effect. The attached file includes all our comments.
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