Since the retail of medicinal products has different characteristics from wholesale distribution, it cannot be presumed from the simple fact that pharmacists satisfy the conditions laid down by the Member States for retail supply that they also comply with the conditions laid down by harmonised rules at EU level for wholesale distribution.

32. Highlights the role of retail as a driver for growth and jobs, and as a building-block of the Single Market; welcomes the planned adoption of the Commission's comprehensive Retail Action Plan, setting out a strategy for a more efficient and fair retail market in Europe, building on positive achievements and addressing outstanding challenges, as well as a Communication assessing national measures in place to deal with contractual relations; recalls that the Action Plan, and the results of the multi-stakeholder dialogue on B2B (business-to-business) practices, will be presented at the first Retail Market Roundtable, to be convened by ...[+++] the end of 2012;

L. whereas globalisation and the processes of concentration, especially at retail level, have created a situation of imbalance as between the different players in the food chain, and today’s reality is one of a tiny number of all-powerful retailers who negotiate directly or indirectly with 13.4 million farmers and 310 000 agri-food enterprises Union-wide;

- that a system of selective distribution may be established for the distribution of newspapers and periodicals, without infringing the prohibition contained in Article 85(1) [now Article 81(1)], given the special nature of those products as regards their distribution (they can only be sold by retailers during an extremely limited period of time, the publishers undertake to take back unsold copies),

Commercial enterprises are not always aware of the opportunities open to them; - the retail trade will be the first area covered by the new programme for the development of vocational training within firms (FORCE). The results will provide a sound basis for taking greater account of the needs of the distributive trades when framing and implementing training policies and programmes; - the structural Funds have a role to play by underpinning the process of commercial development, particularly in regions where the expansion of productive potential is liable to be held back by the weakness of distribution ...[+++] networks; - technology is driving a radical process of change in the nature of relations between firms.

The most recent straw in the wind was Matsushita's announcement last month that it plans to reorganize its captive retail system, simplify its system of rebates to retailers, and abolish financial assistance to retailers belonging to the captive distribution network.