This article is a brief rundown of the key legislative issues facing the vending industry at the moment. EVA members can of course login to our website in order to consult the latest EU Newsletter with further details and articles.

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) implemented since 14 September.

A regulatory standard setting requirements for strong customer authentication (SCA) was implemented on 14 September, bringing new rules for contact and contactless payments.
Since 14 September, SCA (PIN/Password) is required for all electronic payment transactions. For contact card payments it will be required for each transaction, while for contactless payments an SCA exemption can be made according specified criteria:
• An individual contactless transaction of an amount that does not exceed EUR 50, and
• The cumulative amount of contactless transactions since SCA was last performed does not exceed EUR 150, or
• The Number of consecutive contactless transactions since SCA was last performed does not exceed five.

During the summer the EVA contacted relevant National Competent Authorities who are responsible for enforcement of the new rules, to make the case for existing devices in our industry. We are closely monitoring the developments regarding the implementation of the rules in vending; rules which have the potential for lost sales at terminals that have no PIN functionality.

New national and regional proposals on single use plastics
A summer ruling has overturned a law in the Italian region on Apulia which would have seen all companies operating in the region to use only compostable containers for food or drinks. After an appeal by the Italian Vending Association (CONFIDA) and others, the Regional Administrative Court considered that the Region does not have legislative competence ahead of the final EU Directive on Single Use Plastics.

In Germany, the town Council of Tûbingen wants to introduce a €1 tax on each single use plastic food container and cup. It goes without saying that a €1 levy on each vending cup would be madness. Tübingen is currently consulting on the measure and the German Vending Association (BDV) will no doubt explaining in no uncertain terms the likely implications the measure, if implemented, would have on our industry.

In France, the French Vending Association (NAVSA) is continuing to lobby against the new proposed law against waste, which plans to ban plastic cups in 2021 (or even January 2020). NAVSA is conducting a lobbying and communication campaign, aiming to expose the deep problems aspects of the legislation (cup ban, deposit on PET bottles etc) could have for vending. In addition the EVA has signed along with many other Associations in Brussels a joint industry statement by the Packaging Chain Forum on wider concerns over the French draft law and calling for amendments to be made to the draft legislation. Concerns relate to labelling, penalties and export restrictions – all which may negatively impact business and potentially the European single market.

Multi-Drop Bus (MDB) Version 4.3 published
The new version 4.3 of the MDB has been published by the US Vending Association (NAMA). This update was primarily the proposal of the EVA Standards Committee and thereafter approved by NAMA experts earlier this year.

Among the 7 new changes and functionalities are a new remote vend feature to allow selection and payment of products through the use of mobile phone applications without the need to touch the vending machine buttons, as well as basket and coupon additions.

The EVA has disseminated to its members the official updated document.

The UK bans sale of energy drinks to under 16s
The UK government has confirmed that it will ban the sale of energy drinks to under 16s, after a consultation last year.
The decision comes after more than two-thirds of 10-17 year olds consume energy drinks.
However, this ban will effectively end the stocking of energy drinks in vending machines as an age verification device will never realistically be fitted to machines in public environments.
The UK Vending Association (AVA) has responded to the economic impact assessment, and is naturally opposed to any legislation which in practical terms singles out vending for a product ban.

Sugar tax in Catalonia: Government to appeal Court ruling suspending it
The Catalan Government (Generalitat) has announced it will appeal to the Supreme Court in order to continue collecting tax on sugary drinks. On 11 July the Court of Justice in Catalonia ruled against the imposition of the tax and therefore suspending its collection.