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There are so many issues impacting the retail supply chain that it would be almost too long to list here. One of EDRA's main objectives is to really prioritise those issues of greatest concern and importance to the DIY sector and focus on delivering real value to our members in the manner in which we deal with them.

Currently EDRA’s key priorities in Brussels have been identified as:

  • Environment: timber, REACH, tax reduction on green products, biocidal products legislation, WEEE Directive & other waste disposal issues, ECR Initiative.
  • Trade: anti-dumping legislation, chemical precursors, payment terms.
  • Political Developments: key developments in the European Parliament and Commission. Tracking EuroCommerce, the BRC, HDE and ERRT.
  • Consumer Affairs: VAT discrimination.


In March EDRA members spent two successful days in Brussels meeting some of our sector's most important politicians. We were able to talk in some depth with Europe's Climate Change Commissioner about energy efficiency and how the home improvement sector could help householders reduce their monthly bills while contributing to fighting climate change. The Commissioner was very supportive and has offered to work with EDRA going forward our different initiatives; we hope this develops into some tangible successes for our lobbying work going forward.

Over dinner EDRA and Fediyma were joined by five leading European parliamentarians who were interested in getting to know the sector in more depth but who are also concerned over the power of retailers. There is a big debate in Brussels currently about limiting retailer power, through regulation of "unfair contracts". While we do not want Europe to go down this prescriptive route, we also wish to demonstrate that the home improvement supply chain is different. This was the idea behind hosting this dinner jointly with Fediyma. The approach paid off, and we have built some close links with these MEPs, but now we have to sit down with Fediyma and see if there is any possibility of furthering discussions between our sector. This was a good start for EDRA in Brussels but now the real work begins.


 France: Fediyma consumer study for all delegates of the 2nd EHI Forum

All participants of the 2nd European Home Improvement Forum, taking place on 31 May - 1 June in Paris, will have the opportunity to download the new fediyma I
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 UK: Kingfisher in "robust shape"

B&Q's UK and Ireland sales in the 13 weeks to January 28 rose by 0.2% to £837m, continuing to benefit from the closure of Focus DIY last year. Screwfix sales
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 Belgium: Self latest Bricoalliance member

Italian DIY chain Self is the latest retailer to join Bricoalliance, the Belgium-based buying group. Self operates 29 stores with a total sales area of 87,000
read more...

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