Zero Licensing is a government initiative on administrative and regulatory simplification. It is materialized in the form of an electronic platform available in the Entrepreneur Tour (Enterprise Portal) WADA, IP (Presidency of the Council of Ministers). This platform results from an ongoing collaboration between the AMA, the Directorate-General for Economic Activities (Ministry of Economy) and a large number of Portuguese municipalities. It simplifies establishment, closure and modification of most commercial establishments, enabled through the internet, with a single entry point for all counties. Furthermore, it eliminates obstacles and unnecessary licenses, replacing them where possible by a simple notice. The approach is based on trust between the state and business, strengthening enforcement actions retrospectively and strengthening accountability mechanisms of individuals. The approach applies in particular to establishments such as restaurants, bakeries, patisseries, greengrocers, fishmongers, health food stores, drug stores, hair salons and beauty parlors, for which eliminates multiple bureaucratic acts without added value. In June 2013, the European Commission distinguished Zero Licensure as a project of excellence and innovation in the category of Public Administration Innovative initiatives for companies.
The Zero Licensing legal framework was approved by Decree-Law n. # 48 / 2011 , April 1, as amended by Decree-Law n. º 141/2012 of 11 July, and came into force as established by Ordinance No. º 284/2012 of 20 September.
More information on the Licensing Zero http://www.portaldaempresa.pt/CVE/pt/LicenciamentoZero
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