Member

The growth of e-commerce models has provided consumers with greater choice and convenience and has supported business innovation such as the development of new business models. We should always remember that we do not want to stifle business innovation. It has also helped many small businesses grow. It has democratised the size of a business; whether you are a small or big business, the online marketplace has democratised that, enabling businesses to reach new markets and a greater number of consumers. However, this cannot be at the expense of safety and compliant businesses. The rapid expansion of e-commerce has brought significant challenges to the product safety framework, which was not designed with increasingly complex, online and globalised supply chains in mind. We need new powers to address these challenges, ensuring that regulation is necessary, proportionate and flexible to different business models. This will enable us to respond to future risks and protect consumers, enabling a level playing field for businesses, which will promote innovation and growth for responsible sellers.