News & positions

PRESS RELEASES 17 December 2021

EP rightly expands DMA scope to retailing and distribution activities of online gatekeepers


Brussels, 17 December 2021 – AIM, the European Brands Association, welcomes the inclusion by the European Parliament of retailing and distribution activities within ancillary services that may be provided by gatekeepers together with core platform services, in its position on the proposed Digital Markets Act (DMA) adopted this week.

“The extension of the scope of the DMA to digital gatekeepers’ retailing and distribution activities is most welcome since only their intermediation services were covered so far by the draft regulation, leaving a whole part of their online activities unregulated,” observed Michelle Gibbons, Director-General of AIM.

“Offers by brand manufacturers on gatekeepers’ marketplace services may be put at a disadvantage over gatekeepers’ own retail offers and those of third-party sellers using the gatekeepers’ logistics and delivery services,” as the recent investigation launched by the Commission into Amazon’s e-commerce business practices shows.

“We are thus calling on the Commission and co-legislators to extend the scope of the DMA to gatekeepers’ retailing and distribution activities in the final text which they must agree during upcoming trilogue negotiations,” Ms Gibbons added.

Our statement on the Council’s general approach and IMCO report on the DMA provides further detail on our main policy recommendations for trilogue negotiations which will begin in early 2022.

 

Contact

For further information, please contact: Amaury Libbrecht

Tel: +32 2 736 03 05 • Email: amaury.libbrecht@aim.be

About AIM

AIM (Association des Industries de Marque) is the European Brands Association, which represents manufacturers of branded consumer goods in Europe on key issues that affect their ability to design, distribute and market their brands. AIM’s membership comprises 2500 businesses ranging from SMEs to multinationals, directly or indirectly through its corporate and national association members.