ETIRA joins 88 organisations calling for stronger accountability in EU e-commerce
July 16, 2026
The European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturers Association (ETIRA) has joined 87 other European industry and civil society organisations in signing a joint letter to Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné calling for stronger enforcement against non-compliant products sold through online platforms.
The coalition argues that the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce has exposed a significant gap in European legislation. While European manufacturers, importers and distributors must comply with product safety, environmental and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, many products sold directly by sellers outside the EU enter the market without an identifiable economic operator established within Europe.
According to the letter, an estimated 5.9 billion low-value parcels entered the European Union during 2025, placing increasing pressure on customs and market surveillance authorities. The signatories argue that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem and that legislation must clearly establish responsibility for every product sold to European consumers.
The coalition is calling on the European Commission to ensure that the forthcoming European Product Act:
- requires every product sold in the EU to have a responsible economic operator established within the EU or EEA;
- makes online platforms responsible where no other accountable economic operator exists;
- recognises platforms as placing products on the EU market under defined circumstances; and
- closes the accountability gap that currently allows many non-compliant products to reach European consumers.
For ETIRA, the issue extends well beyond product safety.
Javier Martinez, President of ETIRA, commented: “European companies invest every day to comply with environmental and product legislation. Those same rules must apply equally to products sold through online platforms. Accountability is fundamental to a fair Single Market.”
For many years, ETIRA has highlighted how European remanufacturers invest heavily in complying with WEEE, REACH, CLP, packaging legislation, EPR obligations and other product requirements, while many products imported directly through online marketplaces avoid equivalent responsibilities.
The association believes that ensuring every product sold in Europe has a clearly identifiable responsible economic operator is essential to creating a fair, competitive and sustainable Single Market.