This Week in Hospitality & Retail — Brussels (#27, 2026)
Digital product passport registry arrangements set; New rules on biocidal hand disinfection; Austria, Switzerland get cabotage decision; EU equal treatment proposals debated.
July 12, 2026 to July 18, 2026
Digital product passport registry arrangements set; New rules on biocidal hand disinfection; Austria, Switzerland get cabotage decision; EU equal treatment proposals debated.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
European Commission
Commission issues decision detailing digital product passport registry under Regulation (EU) 2024/1781
The European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778 on 16 July 2026, establishing operational and technical specifications for the digital product passport registry as set out in Regulation (EU) 2024/1781. The rules clarify requirements for economic operators, value chain actors, national authorities, and the Commission regarding data structure, authentication, personal data management, and security. Verification process details for economic operators are laid out, together with arrangements for transfer of registered digital product passports and user profile management. The regulation includes detailed logging and audit protocols, retention periods, interconnections with other EU systems, and rules for registered proof of digital product passports. Member States must designate national administrators by 18 February 2027. The Commission noted the need to adopt strict IT security standards and provide technical helpdesk support as part of the system's launch and operation.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
New Union authorisation for biocidal product family ‘Prisman Händedesinfektion’ granted
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1410 of 26 June 2026 authorises the biocidal product family ‘Prisman Händedesinfektion’ for product-type 1, under the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No 528/2012. The regulation allows Schuelke & Mayr GmbH to place this product family on the Union market from 6 August 2026 to 30 September 2035. The product contains propan-2-ol and aligns with the previously authorised ‘desmanol pure’ by minor administrative changes. The European Chemicals Agency’s assessment confirmed compliance with Article 19(6) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012.
Decision (EU) 2026/1769 enables Austria-Switzerland cabotage operations for passenger transport
On 14 July 2026, Decision (EU) 2026/1769 authorised Austria to amend its 1958 bilateral road transport agreement with Switzerland to allow cabotage operations for international coach and bus services in specified Austrian border regions (Vorarlberg’s administrative districts of Bludenz, Bregenz, Dornbirn, Feldkirch, and Tyrol’s Landeck). The cabotage rights must be exercised without discrimination or distortion of competition vis-à-vis Union carriers.
Commission Implementing Decision amends emergency lumpy skin disease measures in Italy
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1765 of 14 July 2026 updates the restrictions and protective zones under Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 in response to a new outbreak of lumpy skin disease virus in Sardinia. The revised annexes extend or revise the duration and size of restricted areas, taking into account the epidemiological situation and continued disease control delays post-Escalaplano outbreak.
EU Council
Justice and Home Affairs ministers hold informal meeting
Justice and Home Affairs ministers convened informally on 16 July 2026, with no published summary. Regular coordination of migration, security, and internal affairs among Member States continued in this Council configuration.
EP Committee Work
LIBE Committee public hearing revisits Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive
On 14 July 2026, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) held a hearing on closing implementation gaps in EU Equality Directives and prospects for reviving the 2008 Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive proposal. The hearing examined recent infringement procedures, CJEU developments, and the capacity of equality bodies following the 2024 Equality Bodies Directives. Panelists included EU officials, civil society, equality bodies, and experts on intersectional discrimination. The event assessed policy options to advance anti-discrimination rules beyond employment, especially for grounds not fully harmonised in EU law.
REGI Committee hearing addresses Just Transition Fund continuity in regions under transition
On 16 July 2026, the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) conducted a hearing focused on lessons learned from regions supported by the Just Transition Fund and strategies for continuity beyond 2027 funding. Regional representatives from Poland and Ireland described implementation challenges and the impact of EU instruments on their local economies. The European Commission provided perspectives on integrating lessons for the next programming period, while project managers from Germany and Ireland discussed strengthening the fund to address the risk that certain territories might lag behind during economic transition.
FISC Subcommittee holds public hearing on new Direct Taxation Omnibus proposal
On 14 July 2026, the Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) held a public hearing on the Commission's Direct Tax Omnibus proposal, tabled on 24 June 2026. The package covers key directives (Parent-Subsidiary, Interest & Royalty, Tax Merger, Anti-Tax Avoidance, and Dispute Resolution Mechanism) and seeks to streamline the EU direct tax legal framework. The hearing featured expert input from SME Europe, BusinessEurope, Tax Justice Network, and DG TAXUD, addressing simplification, legal certainty, compliance cost reduction, and the interaction with global minimum tax rules. The session reviewed stakeholder views and assessed the package's likely impact on businesses and tax authorities as the Parliament prepares its first analysis.
