Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 2

Written Answers - Price Regulations.

Denis Naughten

Question:

183 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has assessed the impact that the new unit price regulations are having on small retailers; her plans to introduce a derogation for smaller retailers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7515/03]

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

On 20 December 2002 I signed into law new unit pricing regulations, European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 639 of 2002), which came into operation on 1 March 2003. It was considered necessary to revoke the previous regulations to improve their transparency. Following lengthy consultations with the trade it was decided to avail of a derogation for small traders for whom it would create an excessive economic burden to comply with the unit pricing element of the directive.

Regulation 5 of the new regulations provides for an exemption from the obligation to indicate the unit price of a product for any product which is sold other than in bulk "in a premises in which the trader does not make use of equipment for printing shelf edge labels or equipment for point of sale scanning, or by an itinerant trader".

The operation of the new regulations will be monitored by my Department in consultation with the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs who are responsible for their enforcement. I understand that the Commission will be looking at the possible continuation of this derogation over the next year.