– The colors on the end shelf here change every season. Right now it’s going into the red, says daily manager Kjersti Vasli. The room overflows with sorted and hung used clothes. The smell of waffles wafts through the room. – Now I think I’ll have a visitor, says Vasli and makes his way past shelves with books and shoes. Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap) enters the door. He has brought a gift to Norway’s Volunteer Centres, and their around 90 second-hand shops. At the volunteer center you can also buy things for the home. Photo: Knut Are Tornås / news The background is a comprehensive set of regulations for the sale of used items. Until now, everyone has had to ask the police for a license to run a shop. All goods must be recorded when they come in and when they are sold. First, according to the law, they must have been quarantined for fourteen days to prevent stolen goods from being sold on. – There is no problem in such shops. Therefore, the ministry has concluded that shops that operate on a voluntary basis do not have to take account of the regulations, says Vestre. Kjersti Vasli has run the volunteering center since its inception nearly 20 years ago. Photo: Knut Are Tornås / news Board member Arvid Askø of Norway’s Volunteer Centers believes that clarification is in order. – Volunteerism has not fit into the regulations. Here, there is no turnover of importance, nor healing, he points out. There are around 490 voluntary centers in Norway. – Now it will be easier for more people to start shops, says Arvid Askø. Photo: Knut Are Tornås / news Wants to scrap the whole law With him to the voluntary center, the minister also had a gift for those who run commercial second-hand shops. He believes that the regulations as a whole are out of date. – We want to scrap the entire law. It was created before anyone thought of circular economy or Finn.no. In the course of next year, there will be new and updated regulations, says the Minister of Business. Buying and selling used clothes is as popular as ever. The future is in our hands – manager Anja Bakken Riise is one of those who has previously referred to the second-hand trade act as one of the obstacles to a circular economy: – For many small and non-profit actors, the very outdated second-hand trade act stands in the way, she said in October. The Minister of Industry promises a new set of regulations in place during the next year. For voluntary shops, the new interpretation already applies from now on. Vestre found his favorite book in the thrift store’s wealth of books. He even bought the book – legally. Photo: Knut Are Tornås / news The police will retain control Allereie In March 2019, a proposal to repeal the law was submitted for consultation. The further process was then put on hold due to the corona pandemic. One of the critical voices was the police, who believed that the law was important to prevent crime. Record-keeping and retention obligations help to keep track of any criminal actors. – We wish to prevent illegal trading. At the same time, we see that there may be a need for modernisation, says Liv Aaberg Corneliussen in the Norwegian Police Directorate. Photo: Knut Are Tornås / news The message is the same today. – Ensuring that one does not contribute to the turnover of stolen items is an important preventive objective for the police. We hope to still be able to do that, even if the regulations are changed, says section leader in the Norwegian Police Directorate Liv Aaberg Corneliussen. – We are going into the circular age, not back to the stone age, says Vestre about the new regulations for second-hand trade. Photo: Knut Are Tornås / news – It’s probably stolen art and cars they’re preoccupied with. We will listen to the recording, but today’s law is nothing to tinker with, says Vestre.
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Want more reuse – pulls second-hand trade law from the dump – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
