With 21 votes in favor, 4 against, and 13 abstentions out of 48 MPs present, the House of Representatives passed the highly debated bill imposing a price cap on packaged water sold in specific locations where competition is insufficient. Ten MPs did not vote.

Additionally, three proposed amendments were rejected.

Under the newly passed law, the Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry is authorized to issue decrees setting maximum retail prices for bottled and packaged drinking water sold by businesses operating in locations where sufficient market competition cannot develop due to external factors.

The regulation applies to the following water products: 500ml bottled water, 750ml bottled water, 500ml drinking water in a cup, 750ml drinking water in a cup.

These price controls will be enforced in specific public spaces, including:

• Airports and ports

• Sports venues

• Beaches

• Archaeological sites and museums

• Hospitals

• Theaters and cinemas

• Theme parks and zoos

The law clarifies that the price cap applies only to standing consumers and does not extend to seated customers receiving table service (e.g., orders served by waitstaff).

Regarding beaches, the regulation covers all licensed beaches managed by local authorities with approved beach usage plans from the Central Beach Committee. It also applies to isolated or geographically constrained beaches where competition is naturally limited.

The maximum penalties for non-compliance have been increased: Imprisonment extended from 1 to 2 years, and fines increased from €5,000 to €15,000.

This change ensures that the maximum court-imposed fine is not lower than the highest administrative fine that the Consumer Protection Service can impose.

The final version of the law removed the definition of "business," which initially included canteens, refreshment stands, bars, cafés, restaurants, and vending machines. Additionally, the Minister of Energy’s authority to amend annexes of the proposed law through decrees was also eliminated.