The show will take place from 12 to 15 October at the RAI exhibition centre in Amsterdam alongside the co-located European Sign Expo.

Due to the pandemic, there will be several changes in place, including the requirement for visitors to register before attending the event to obtain a digital entry QR code, which will be held on participants’ phones.

The entry requirements for the venue also specify that all attendees must provide proof that they are double vaccinated, have recently recovered from Covid-19, or have received a negative Covid test before entering.

This will be facilitated via the EU Digital Covid Certificate (DCC) for travellers from the EU and other non-EU countries that have joined the DCC so far.

Fully-vaccinated visitors from countries not part of the scheme, including the UK, will be able to show printed proof of vaccination to enter the venue. The NHS Covid Pass letter can be obtained here and should be delivered within five working days of being requested.

Restrictions on fully-vaccinated travellers to The Netherlands from designated ‘very high-risk countries’, which includes the UK, were lifted last Wednesday (22 September).

Fespa said its measures aim to minimise the risk of spreading the virus in the exhibition. In addition to proof of vaccination or a negative test result, before entering all visitors will be asked a series of health questions.

Participants that are unable to provide proof of vaccination can still visit Fespa under the ‘impact to Dutch economy’ exemption. To do this, visitors will need to fill the Quarantine Declaration Form and tick the box that indicates that they fall into the exemption category.

To accompany the Quarantine Declaration From, visitors require an invitation letter from the RAI, which Fespa will issue upon request. Attendees who are not fully-vaccinated will also need to provide a negative test result each day – test results are only valid for 24 hours. Free rapid antigen testing will be available onsite at the RAI.

Following recent guidance from the Dutch government, social distancing and wearing facemasks are no longer mandatory but Fespa said it recommends that each attendee takes the safety precautions that help them feel safe.

To support this, a ‘traffic light system’, where visitors can wear a red, orange, or green badge will enable everyone to indicate their personal preferences around physical contact. The floorplan features wider aisles, and floor markings will be in place where queues may form, which will allow for the easier flow of visitors around the event.

When arriving or leaving the RAI, crowd management and traffic protocols will be used to ensure attendees arrive and leave the show as safely as possible.

A raft of strict cleaning and hygiene measures will also be in place at the show, with staff following a rigorous ‘master cleaning plan’ supported by a Covid-19 hygiene plan. There will also be a newly reconfigured and recalibrated air ventilation system, based on guidance issued by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

To further minimise physical touchpoints throughout the exhibition, visitors can use QR codes to access online brochures, magazines, and product information, and to connect with suppliers. This will be facilitated by Fespa’s event partner, Visit Connect. Once registered, attendees will receive links to an online portal and QR code for entry.

Fespa CEO Neil Felton said: “Health and safety is paramount at Fespa Global Print Expo and European Sign Expo 2021 and we have been working closely with the RAI, Dutch government, the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment and the city’s Municipal Health Service to ensure that we’re following the latest guidance to safeguard all participants.

“There will, of course, be differences in the way the 2021 events run, but we believe that printers that are keen to experience a live Fespa event again can do so with a high level of confidence in the measures being taken by Fespa and the RAI to protect them.”

Registration for Fespa Global Print Expo 2021 and European Sign Expo 2021, as well as the full exhibitor list, is available at www.fespaglobalprintexpo.com.