HOTREC and UEAPME call on the Council to offer flexibility to member states on official control fees

BRUSSELS – HOTREC, the umbrella Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes in Europe, and UEAPME, the employers’ organisation representing the interests of European crafts, trades and SMEs, call on the Council to offer flexibility to Member States when they decide how to finance their control activities in the food sector.
 

The Commission proposal on official controls in the food chain intends to make mandatory for Member States to charge a fee to all food business operators controlled, even in the absence of any lack of compliance with the law. HOTREC and UEAPME consider that flexible solutions should instead be offered to Member States, especially for SMEs and operators providing solely local services.
 

“Many small hospitality businesses cannot afford the imposition of an additional fee and would not understand an EU obligation to pay a control fee, while they only provide local services with no cross-border impact. There is a clear need for flexibility for Member States here.” said HOTREC President Kent Nystrom.
 

“The imposition of a control fee to small food businesses would clearly be excessive and would represent an unsustainable burden compared to their business and their size. Member States should have the possibility to choose whether to apply or not a control fee to these businesses” – stressed UEAPME Secretary General, Peter Faross.
 

HOTREC and UEAPME call on the Council to follow a similar approach to the one adopted by the European Parliament in its 1st reading position, by granting Member States the option to decide:

– if a fee is to be requested to food business operators, especially for operators providing local services;

– if and how a micro-enterprise exemption can apply.