In adopting the report by Mrs Ria OOMEN-RUIJTEN (PPE,NL), Parliament approved the
directive the purpose of which is to stipulate indication of the selling price (final price for a
given quantity of the product) and the price per unit (kg, litre, metre, sq metre, cubic metre
etc.) of products offered for retail to final consumers, so as to facilitate comparison of prices,
wherever such comparison is relevant.
The selling price and the unit price must be indicated on the product offered for sale or on the
shelf where it is located. In small retail businesses the prices may also be indicated on a price
list displayed in a prominent place in the shop.
Parliament called for the following to be excluded from this directive:
- food products sold in hotels, cafés, restaurants, drinks outlets, cinemas and theatres,
teaching establishments, leisure centres, staff cooperatives, hospitals, canteens and
similar establishments;
- itinerant salesmen;
- products sold in means of transport;
- products sold in vending machines;
- auctions;
- private sales.
In the transitional period following introduction of the single currency, the following three
prices should be indicated: selling price in the national currency; selling price in the single
currency; unit price in the single currency. The Commission and the Member States were
invited to provide the necessary financing for training sales outlet staff responsible for
explaining the prices to consumers in the run-up to the single currency. The Commission
should grant financial aid for information campaigns for small retailers.
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