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We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Laure Alexandre as Executive Director of Seldia! Of French nationality, Laure Alexandre is an experienced EU public affairs specialist, with 14 years of expertise in health and consumer policies. She previously worked for the European Advertising Standard Alliance and spiritsEUROPE, promoting and advancing effective self-regulation and corporate social responsibility. “I am confident that with her extensive background and professional experience, Laure will be an asset for Seldia and will lead the association with skills and professionalism” said Seldia Chairman Philippe Jacquelinet. Laure will be responsible of the Seldia office in Brussels and will lead its strategy with the objective of defending the interests of its members, as well as promoting the direct selling channel of distribution as one of the main providers of independent job opportunities, of particularly growing relevance during economically challenging times.

Seldia welcomes the European Commission’s intention to review the EU legislative framework on digital services and address the new challenges posed in the online environment. We believe that such a framework should be based on the following key objectives: Ensuring safety in the online environment. Boosting consumer trust in online sales of goods and services. Introducing a minimum of harmonised legal obligations for online intermediaries. Setting up a level playing field between all businesses offering products, regardless whether they are established in the EU or outside of the EU. Strengthening the internal market and enforcing the principle of the free movement of digital services. You can download the full Seldia Position Paper on the Digital Services Act here.

Congratulations to all our members for their outstanding work in the following categories. National Direct Selling Associations: Education & Skills : DSAs of POLAND & RUSSIA /  ex aequo winners . PR & Communication : DSA of the UNITED KINGDOM. DSA Functioning & Services to Members : DSAs of POLAND & ITALY  /  ex aequo winners . Corporate Members: Transition to Green Economy : Herbalife Nutrition. Corporate Social Responsibility : PM International.

Seldia responses the Phase Consultation with social partners on Working Conditions in Platform Work. Seldia supports fair working conditions for all workers. We also wish for the current conversation on the status of platform worker to not inadvertently affect the distinct specificities of Direct Selling with the European Union. We also favour the exchange of good practices among different stakeholders and sectors and we are looking forward to further feeding into this important debate. You can download our Response to the Phase Consultation here.

We are delighted to welcome Avon , a beauty Direct Selling company, as a Corporate Member. Avon was founded by David H. McConnell, a progressive pioneer, an impressive visionary, a courageous game-changer, and above all, a champion of women. But he did not set out to create a beauty company. He was a travelling book salesperson who offered beauty products as a gift. He soon realised customers were more interested in the free perfume samples than the books. From a small New York City office, McConnell mixed our first fragrances himself, and recruited a team of women to be sales Representatives. It was a radical business model in 1886, but McConnell believed in the power of community, and was passionate about giving women economic freedom.  They have been doing beauty differently for over 135 years across the world standing out by: The Power of Beauty. A Community That Does Beauty Differently. Supporting Women. Innovation. Their responsibility to be responsible.

Seldia adopts Codes of Conduct in order to ensure that the relationships between companies, direct sellers and consumers are based on trust and fairness. The first European Codes of Ethics were adopted in 1995. In May 2021, The Seldia General Assembly adopted a revised version of the European Codes of Conduct for Direct Selling , and a Guide on disclosure and recognisability of the commercial nature of direct selling social media content . The Guide builds on existing guidance available from enforcement authorities and advertising standards self-regulatory organisations, in Europe and beyond, while aiming to address the specificities of the direct selling on social media. European Direct Selling associations will have until 31 December 2021 to transpose the new codes provisions locally. Companies will have until 30 June 2022 to reflect the European and national changes in their material and practice. See the updated Codes of Conduct here . See the Guide on disclosure and recognisability of the commercial nature of direct selling social media content here .

Seldia and WFDSA published the statistics of the Direct Selling sector in Europe. You can view the 2020 report here .

On 25 November, Beatrice Nelson Beer, Chief Legal Officer, global head of legal, regulatory affairs, compliance, and human resources at PM International was elected as President of Seldia. She succeeds to Philippe Jacquelinet, CEO of the French clothing company Captain Tortue, who brilliantly served for two terms. The Seldia Board of Directors will be composed of the Secretary Generals of the Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and Baltics Direct Selling Associations, and corporate representatives from Oriflame, Herbalife Nutrition, and Mary Kay.  The new Board will be composed of five women and five men, and reflect the North-South-East-West EU membership. Addressing the General Assembly, Beatrice said “It is such an honour to be chosen to lead Seldia. Direct selling offers fantastic opportunities in today’s flexible working environment for people of all walks of life to maximise their potential and earn a supplementary income. As direct selling itself continues to transition in the digital era, I look forward to leading the continued transformation of Seldia so we can collectively take full advantage of the opportunities ahead”. Laure Alexandre, Executive Director of Seldia said: “Direct selling is changing and so is Seldia. Direct sellers in the EU are 79% women. The Seldia team is all women, and our Board of Directors also now evolves to reflect this. With the regulatory and societal changes ahead, I very much look forward to working with Beatrice for the next three years.”

The European Direct Selling Conference took place. We would like to share with you a few words from Seldia’s President, Beatrice Nelson-Beer.

Seldia proposes draft amendments for the proposal on Consumer Credits Directive. You can download the full proposal of draft amendments here.