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ACS has raised concerns about the costs and administrative burdens that new ‘Track and Trace’ proposals on tobacco could have on the convenience sector.

The EU Revised Tobacco Products Directive aims to introduce a method of tracking the sale of legitimate tobacco products through the supply chain. Up to this point, the Directive has stated that they would only affect the ‘last economic operator before the first retail outlet’ but the latest draft of the regulations includes a number of demands on retailers purchasing tobacco from a wholesaler.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove’s announcement of a new call for evidence on bottle deposit return schemes, urging the Government to consider the negative impact that such schemes would have on the convenience sector.

This year’s Heart of the Community conference takes place on 17th October at Church House in Westminster between 12pm and 4pm. Attendance is free for retailers and other ACS members, click here to book your place. 

The event will bring together retailers from across the country with industry experts and Government Ministers. High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP will address retailers on the key issues affecting the convenience sector and the Government’s plans to help small businesses and high streets.

ACS has welcomed a new report from recycling and waste management company Viridor which highlights the need for a more consistent approach to recycling from local councils.

Bottle deposit return schemes would impose significant time and cost burdens on convenience store retailers and their staff, according to evidence presented by ACS at the Labour Party Conference this week.

At a fringe event hosted by the British Soft Drinks Association on Monday evening, ACS detailed the issues that would be faced by retailers if they were forced to be part of a bottle deposit return scheme.

It is now just a few weeks until Heart of the Community 2017, ACS’ headline political conference of the year in London on October 17^th.

In addition to hearing from High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP and senior business leaders during the event, the conference will feature an interactive Local Engagement session which aims to facilitate discussion between local stakeholders and retailers about how they can work better together.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Government to implement a series of measures on business rates, employment costs and duty rates to help local shops and other small businesses.

In its submission ahead of the Chancellor’s first Autumn Budget on 22^nd November, ACS has reiterated its calls for an overhaul of the business rates system, with urgent attention required to allow businesses to appeal their rates.

The submission calls for:

Heart of the Community 2017 is just a few weeks away, where High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP will address retailers on the Government's plans to help high streets and small businesses.

Jake Berry was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government on 14^th June after retaining his Rossendale and Darwen seat in the 2017 General Election. His responsibilities include local growth policies, Local Enterprise Partnerships, community rights and high streets.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores)has raised concerns about the complexity of proposals to track the progress of legitimate tobacco products through the supply chain.  

New draft regulations from the EU Commission would require UK retailers and wholesalers to register and pay to receive unique ‘identifier codes’ in order to sell tobacco products.