Brussels, 19 January 2023

FESI, together with 26 other industry associations, is joining forces to call for a “realistic, proportional, and workable” EU framework on Due Diligence.

While we fully support the recent EU initiative on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, it remains crucial for this new framework to truly enable and guide businesses in taking necessary steps towards more sustainable supply chains.

The most important element of the proposal should be full harmonisation. This is necessary to avoid fragmentation of the EU single market and ensure a true level playing field. If the EU wishes its model to be used as a reference elsewhere in the world, it cannot rely on the limited harmonisation provided by the directive that would potentially lead to 27 different frameworks.

More in our joint statement here: https://fesi-sport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/23-01-19-Joint-Business-Statement-on-the-due-diligence-proposal-CS3D_final.pdf

About FESI: Founded in 1960 FESI – the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry represents the interests of approximately 1.800 sporting goods manufacturers (85% of the European market) through its National Sporting Goods Industry Federations and its directly affiliated member companies. 70-75% of FESI’s membership is made up of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. In total, the European Sporting Goods Industry employs over 700.000 EU citizens and has an annual turnover of some 81 billion euro.

Contact: Ariane Gatti, FESI Senior Communication & Policy Manager / [email protected]  / +32 274 08 94