HOTREC joins call for a targeted exemption from mandatory cash acceptance in high-risk situations
As trilogue negotiations on the proposed Regulation on the legal tender of euro banknotes and coins prepare to resume, HOTREC yesterday joined a broad coalition of merchant and business associations, representing millions of businesses and billions of payment transactions, in urging EU policymakers to introduce a targeted exemption from the mandatory acceptance of cash where objective safety, security or health risks exist.
In a joint letter, the signatories reaffirm their support for safeguarding consumers' right to access and use cash. At the same time, they stress that any obligation on businesses to accept cash must remain proportionate, practical and accompanied by reasonable exemptions.
While welcoming the progress made during negotiations, including proposed exemptions for unmanned settings, the coalition argues that further safeguards are needed in situations where the acceptance, storage, transport or handling of cash creates demonstrable risks for employees, customers or the wider public.
The joint letter therefore calls for a targeted exemption allowing businesses not to accept cash in clearly defined high-risk situations, provided that alternative means of payment remain available. Importantly, the proposal would not create a blanket exemption at EU level. Instead, it would be up to Member States to identify and establish appropriate time windows and high-risk contexts where such an exemption would apply, and to incorporate these measures into their monitoring and reporting frameworks.
For the hospitality sector, this approach would provide the flexibility needed to address specific operational realities while ensuring that employers can continue to meet their obligations to provide a safe, secure and healthy working environment for staff and customers alike.