CECIP Newsletter Q1 2020
CECIP Newsletter Q1 2020
CECIP statement on COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant negative impact on the European weighing industry. Although the size of the impact is still uncertain, it is clear that the industry faces major economic problems due to disruptions in supply chains, production and providing services. CECIP, as representative of the weighing industry in Europe, welcomes the wide-range of measures already introduced by Member States and calls on the EU and Member States to continue with new actions. CECIP believes actions should be taken to focus, at least, on the following points:
- Ensure liquidity of companies: Measures that can support companies in ensuring liquidity and being able to pay the bills are highly important. Not only for the weighing industry itself, but for all its suppliers and service providers. This could, for example, be a delay of VAT-payments, short-time work compensation or reducing bills for utilities or rental fees. It is important that bureaucracy should be kept at a minimum for the measures introduced.
- Increase flexibility in deadlines weighing industry: Audits and verifications are carried out on a continuous basis within the weighing industry. Often these need to be done before a certain deadline. Considering the social distancing measures in place in most Member States CECIP believes it is better if deadlines can be extended.
- Retain personnel with right skills: In the last years the European weighing industry is experiencing difficulties with attracting sufficient personnel with the right skills. It is important that the employees currently working in the industry can be retained, despite possibly temporary unemployment and cashflow problems. Short-time work compensation as introduced in several countries is a vital measure that should be introduced as widely and flexible as possible.
- Keep supply chains and borders open: The supply chains of the weighing industry are highly international. Additionally, technicians need to be able to carry out services in other countries. Therefore, CECIP requests maintaining the free movement of goods and persons with as little hindrances as possible.
- Avoid unnecessary bankruptcies: A number of companies in the European weighing industry will face adverse conditions in the coming months. Normally healthy companies will fight for survival. European funds via the European Investment Bank should be dedicated to protect companies that are in trouble due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, national governments should introduce state-backed loan guarantees to banks allowing companies to get the options to keep the business ongoing in the heat of the crisis.
The European weighing industry is a competitive industry and structurally in good health. It is a world leading industry and vital for enabling other sectors to function properly and innovate. Therefore, CECIP is convinced that the weighing industry can overcome these problems if the right actions are taken by the EU and its Member States.
You can read the full CECIP statement here.
CECIP welcomes EU Industrial Strategy
The European Commission published on 10 March its new EU Industrial strategy and several related documents such as the Single Market enforcement action plan. CECIP actively supported the request for the EU Industrial Strategy as part of the Industry4Europe coalition consisting of over 150 European industry associations. Therefore, CECIP welcomes the publication of the document as it is positive there is more attention for industry and its role in the European economy is acknowledged.
There is a wide range of measures proposed that should improve the competitiveness of the European industry. Particularly, the elements on the EU Single Market for services are welcomed by CECIP. Actions that can remove the barriers such a more guidance on the Services Directive and the principle of mutual recognition and improving access to information on legal requirements will be steps in the right direction. Furthermore, CECIP believes it is important that the implementation ensures the measures benefit the companies in practice. Measures should all be designed with the situation of SMEs in mind and be kept simple. This is for example the case when it comes to providing information on rules set in national legislation.
Procedures that deal with differences in interpretations on EU legislation should be fast, transparent, inclusive and widely-recognized as mentioned in several suggested actions. Moreover, CECIP supports the initiatives that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of market surveillance. Finally, CECIP wants to stress that the biggest barriers within the Single Market for the weighing industry are sector specific. Difference in national legislation with respect to reverification requirements create unnecessary and disproportionate barriers. Where the European Commission indicates that they will assess potential measures to reduce barriers within the Single Market, it is crucial that sector-specific legislation is considered as well.
Overall, CECIP welcomes the acknowledgement of the importance of the EU industry and emphasizes that it is important that the measures also result in improvements in practice. CECIP sincerely hopes the level of ambition in the plans is also maintained in its execution.
CECIP explains use of weighing instruments in different sectors
From the moment you’re weighed just after birth to the food you buy every week, the average person is dealing with weighing throughout their whole life. For all of these actions it is crucial the weight indicated is accurate and reliable to ensure fair trade. Additionally, weighing instruments enable innovation and digitalisation in numerous sectors. Even though weighing instruments and weighed products are everywhere in society, they are not always visible to everyone. Therefore, CECIP published 7 documents that describe in simple terms the use of weighing instruments in different sectors. For each sector several examples of current and potential future solutions are given. The documents aim at informing the general public about the importance of weighing in their day-to-day life. Documents are prepared for the following sectors:
CECIP becomes liaison with CEN/CENELEC committee on NAWI
CECIP was approved as liaison of CEN/CENELECT Joint Technical Committee 18 on non-automatic weighing instruments (NAWI). This joint technical committee will be responsible for the revision of EN 455501, which is the harmonised standard under Directive 2014/31/EC on non-automatic weighing instruments. In other words, the technical requirements to show compliance with the European legislation are set in this harmonised standard. This standard is based on OIML Recommendation 76 on non-automatic weighing instruments and considering this recommendation is being revised the standard needs a revision as well in one of the coming years. Additionally, the working group might start projects on standards for nationally regulated instruments. The first meeting took place on 24 March where CECIP was represented.
CECIP General Assembly 2020 as webconference
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided to not have the CECIP General Assembly 2020 as a physical meeting. The General Assembly and the related internal meetings will take place as webconferences on the times that were originally planned. To guarantee the health of the participants, this seems the best option and we hope all participants understand. The plan is to organise the CECIP 2021 in London with a similar programme. All CECIP members will be informed about the new date as soon as it is confirmed.
