CSNA NEWS

CSNA: REPRESENTING OVER 1,500 RETAILERS NATIONWIDE

PRESIDENT’S OPINION

CSNA retail members are among the most community-oriented businesses in the country. They understand what it really means to be part of their hometown and never shirk in promoting initiatives that are designed to make their area a better place.

CSNA represents members’ interests on Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) exemption rule

The CSNA is pleased to note that as a result of urgings from the association the exemption rule has been moved from 150sq m to 250sq m. This will reduce the cost of compliance for smaller retailers.

In preparation for going live on 1 February 2024, Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for empty bottles/containers, has announced the take-back exemptions for deposit return.

Retailers operating from stores with a retail area of less than 250sq m will be able to apply for a take-back exemption. This is to facilitate smaller retailers with limited retail and storage space.

That is why the association has given much consideration to the ‘Latte Levy’ in terms of its objectives. We find it to be an unfair and unreasonable tax on our customers and will support the calls from the IPPCA to stand down the implementation of this poorly considered legislation.

We are sceptical about the accuracy of the figures supplied to the Department and used by them in their Regulatory Impact Analysis, something that the renowned economist Jim Power was able to debunk. We are concerned that our sales will suffer and that the levy will make coffee an even more expensive commodity. We do not accept that currently 25% of our customers use Keep Cups (as stated in the RIA) and are furious that the State has never invested in technology to recycle compostable material.

Sensible, scientifically robust environmental arguments will always find favour with us; this levy has none of these hallmarks. Scrap the idea please Minister.

Vaping matters: Some new developments

CSNA members are very aware of their societal obligations regarding the sale or supply of any items containing nicotine such as tobacco and vaping products but there are, unfortunately, some outlets that are allowing their greed to run ahead of them.

We have previously alerted you to the difficulties that a number of very large supermarkets encountered with Trading Standards in the UK regarding the sale of vaping devices that contained amounts in excess of permitted levels. Judging by the reports we are getting from retailers around the country, at least some of this stock is finding its way back into Irish retail outlets through the “white van” supply chain at unrealistic wholesale prices - be advised that buying from a nonreputable source will not bode well.

Disposable vapes contain electronic parts, toxic chemicals and nicotine; they are regulated in Ireland through a number of laws and regulations and compliance is carried out by officers from the Environmental Health service (EHOs). We noted the response from the Minister for Health to a Dáil Question recently advising the querist that he had asked his officials to “examine options” towards a restriction of flavours in nicotine inhaling products.

It is equally likely that there will be an increased clamor for additional restrictions such as display bans, plain packaging and applying excise duties to deter youth purchasing; the growth of the sector has not gone unnoticed and when the hammer comes down, the CSNA believes it will have an impact on margins being achieved in the tobacco category, which is where many retailers choose to place these products.