New rules on customs valuation in the European Union prompted the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (Fesi) to organize a webinar on May 31 with Raphael Barazza, a customs lawyer who has a working agreement with the French federation of sporting goods suppliers (Fifas) and has represented Fesi, along with industry experts, in the Trade Contact Group of the European Commission's DG Customs Union and Taxation (DGTaxud). A major change in the rules is that valuation may no longer be based on the value of a first sale. Over the past years Fesi has lobbied against the suggestion to establish valuations based on sales to the end consumer. This suggestion has been brushed aside, but there are still many variables to be taken into account to establish what the actual basis for valuation should be. The DG Taxud has published guidelines on the matter but it's up to the member states to implement them and they remain open to different interpretations.

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