In Svezia è stata abolita la tassa che si intendeva introdurre sulle sostanze chimiche nell’abbigliamento e nelle calzature. L’entrata in vigore del provvedimento, prevista inizialmente il 1 gennaio 2021, era stata poi posticipata al 2022 ma sembra che, nel frattempo, le proteste dell’industria locale ed europea siano state ascoltate dalle autorità pubbliche.
Si tratta di un passaggio importante per il nostro settore e per tutte le parti interessate. In effetti le diverse associazioni che rappresentano il settore dell’abbigliamento e della calzatura casual e sportiva hanno attivamente collaborato con l’associazione svedese Svensk Handel, sottolineando la necessità di affrontare tali questioni attraverso il processo REACH dell’UE e non con tasse nazionali unilaterali.
Qui di seguito la traduzione dallo svedese di un interessante articolo in materia:
The textile importers today received an email from State Secretary Fredrik Olovsson with whom we had a close dialogue for a long time and he writes:
Magdalena Andersson now announces at lunchtime that the government sees practical problems with introducing the tax on chemicals in clothing and footwear announced in the budget bill for 2021. Changed customs rules have also created difficulties in making the proposal work for private imports from countries outside the EU.
With the difficulties that the proposal entails with regard to private imports, it is not considered appropriate in this economic situation to introduce a tax on chemicals in clothing and footwear at the same time as the clothing industry is undergoing a structural transformation. In addition, new or planned rules on the harmful substances covered by the proposal have reduced the need for a tax. Therefore, the announcement today is that the government will roll back the announcement in the budget bill for 2022 and that the tax will not be introduced from 1 January “
We see this as a great victory for the Textile Importers and the entire industry as we have worked very hard to influence our politicians because we believe that the introduction of a tax is the wrong way to go.
We already have well-functioning chemicals legislation (REACH) and the introduction of a special tax would entail a large administrative burden and increased costs, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.