VOLUNTARY CODES ARE WORTHLESS, SAYS ANR
07 May 2008
The Association of News Retailing (ANR) has said that it could not possibly support the introduction of the Voluntary Code of Practice proposed by some publishers and wholesalers in response to the ongoing Office of Fair Trading investigation into the news industry.
The proposal suggests that the industry should be self-regulating and self-monitoring, and provides examples of other markets in which codes of practice work successfully. John Lennon, Managing Director at ANR, said: “The codes used in these other industries are not voluntary, they are all legally underpinned and they carry meaningful penalties for failure or lack of compliance.”
The ANR is concerned that a Voluntary Code of Practice will result in a meaningless and time-consuming restitution process whereby retailers have to claim small amounts in lost sales against papers being delivered late.
“If publishers and wholesalers are serious about a full industry partnership,” continued John Lennon, “then they must listen to retailer concerns and not just pay lip service to them whenever the OFT conducts one of its reviews. History has shown that as soon as the news industry leaves the OFT’s radar, the needs of the retailer are put on the back burner again.”
Contacts:
John Lennon Managing Director, ANR
01252 515001 / 07812 144439
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372 978
Nina Collins Communications Coordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton/Julie Kirby Grappa PR
020 7602 9222
Notes to Editors:
1) The Association of News Retailing (ANR) was set up in 2001 as the news and magazines arm of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
The proposal suggests that the industry should be self-regulating and self-monitoring, and provides examples of other markets in which codes of practice work successfully. John Lennon, Managing Director at ANR, said: “The codes used in these other industries are not voluntary, they are all legally underpinned and they carry meaningful penalties for failure or lack of compliance.”
The ANR is concerned that a Voluntary Code of Practice will result in a meaningless and time-consuming restitution process whereby retailers have to claim small amounts in lost sales against papers being delivered late.
“If publishers and wholesalers are serious about a full industry partnership,” continued John Lennon, “then they must listen to retailer concerns and not just pay lip service to them whenever the OFT conducts one of its reviews. History has shown that as soon as the news industry leaves the OFT’s radar, the needs of the retailer are put on the back burner again.”
Contacts:
John Lennon Managing Director, ANR
01252 515001 / 07812 144439
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372 978
Nina Collins Communications Coordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton/Julie Kirby Grappa PR
020 7602 9222
Notes to Editors:
1) The Association of News Retailing (ANR) was set up in 2001 as the news and magazines arm of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.