New rules to help SMEs sell across Europe
Photo Jochen Jansen
(BRUSSELS) - New rules on mutual recognition of goods, which started applying across the EU from Sunday, will make it faster, simpler and easier for companies, especially SMEs, to sell their products across Europe.
"A strong Single Market is Europe's best tool to exit the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus," said Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton: "These new rules will help European businesses and make the Single Market even stronger."
He said the new rules would ensure that goods can be sold across Europe more easily and would reduce red tape.
The new rules aim to boost the EU's mutual recognition principle which allows products to move freely within the Single Market, if they are lawfully marketed in one EU country.
Under the new rules, companies can fill in a voluntary 'mutual recognition declaration' to show competent national authorities that their products are lawfully marketed in another Member State.
When companies are denied or restricted market access for their products they can contest such decisions using a business friendly procedure in SOLVIT, the EU's problem-solving network.
In addition, reinforced 'product contact points' set up in each Member States will provide information on national technical rules easily accessible online.