E-tailing course gets IMRG regulation

NEWS The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) is to bump up its ecommerce self-regulation scheme. The group has partnered with Sheffield-based University for Industry to offer a low-cost electronic training program for online merchants. The course, available from September 2000, will train e-retailers in the importance of disclosing distribution taxes and all other terms and conditions up front. The IMRG code of practice is backed by legal firms, retailers and technologists; including Argos, BT, Halifax and Marks & Spencer. James Roper, CEO at IMRG, commented: "Any company which complies with the code can use our hallmark. Our code is better than other self-regulatory schemes because we are owned and managed by such a diverse group of companies. Whenever a problem occurs in the ecommerce arena, we have the authority of our members to tackle it head-on." IMRG's code of practice is available in full at http://www.imrg.org/hallmark/code.htm .