Today we're sharing with you some of our everyday problems that take up a lot of our time. Currently, it's the Packaging Act, which takes effect in January 2019.
According to this law, anyone who places packaging filled with goods (including filling material) that accrues to the private end consumer on the market for the first time on a commercial basis must register with the newly established “Stiftung Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister” (Foundation Central Agency Packaging Register) with their name, contact details, etc. before placing the packaging on the market (Section 9 (1) (s) 1 of the Packaging Act).
So far, so simple. Then the madness begins: All brands we distribute must be fully registered with this authority. We must state in kilograms the quantities of packaging we generate for the coming year in the form of glass, paper, cardboard, aluminum, metal, etc. (broken down individually, of course), and which dual system we have acquired a license from for these quantities so that this packaging can be disposed of by end consumers.
So, for example, we have to license the same quantities from the Green Dot (for a monthly license fee, of course) and receive written proof of this! And the fees are high, so high that they practically spell doom for all small businesses...
So, is everything still clear? We now source many types of chocolate from abroad. From the Netherlands, for example, but also from Finland (brand: Dammenberg) and even from England. It is now our responsibility to check whether licenses for these manufacturers' packaging have already been issued or paid for. If not, we must take over the licenses for these packaging. If we fail to check this and obtain written confirmation of the license, we face a fine of up to €200,000... because we have the burden of proof.
That was the brief summary. All in all, it's much more complicated and simply increases costs even further, without us currently seeing any added value. And we're practically already stuck with one foot in jail. Who doesn't make a mistake with this madness? Hence the featured image...
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