Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 4

Written Answers. - Price Regulations.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

125 Ms Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main features of the new pricing regulations due to come into operation in March 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4428/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

The objective of the new European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002 is to help consumers to be better informed about prices, to make accurate price comparisons between different brands and sizes and, thereby, to get the best available value for money through stimulating more effective competition among retailers and suppliers. The new pricing regulations, which will come into force on 1 March next, have as their main features the following provisions.

Traders must indicate the selling price of items for sale. The only exceptions are products supplied in the course of the provision of a service, sales by auction or sales of works of art and antiques. Traders, excluding itinerant traders and those who do not make use of equipment for printing shelf edge labels or equipment for point of sale scanning, selling items other than in bulk, must also indicate the unit price of items for sale. A unit price is required when products are sold by weight or volume, i.e. by reference to the base metric units of one kilogram, one litre, one kilogram, one metre, one square metre or one cubic metre. There are some obvious exclusions from the unit pricing requirements, for example, goods in pre-packs of less than 50 g or 50 ml, goods at a reduced selling price due to damage or because of danger of deterioration, goods for which the selling price is the same as the unit price, products comprising an assortment of different items, for example, for example, Christmas hampers, goods sold from vending machines that sell more than one type of product, and where the selling price does not relate to the quantity being sold.

The legislation applies to goods sold in retail outlets, by mail order and via the Internet. Wholesalers and distributors are not affected by this legislation. The regulations will be enforced by the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in fines of up to a maximum of €3,000 per offence.