A revised bill regulating the maximum retail price of bottled water at specific sales points was discussed further in the Commerce Committee, with the Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, Giorgos Papanastasiou, in attendance.

The revised legislation includes all bottled water sizes: 330 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml, and 1 liter. While a uniform pricing framework has been agreed upon for structures included in the decree, some issues remain unresolved, such as the methodology for determining the maximum price at different sales points.

Minister Papanastasiou stated that the Ministry’s objective is to establish a single price across all structures under the decree, considering specific costs associated with each. The goal is to offer a product with a reasonable profit margin while ensuring consumer protection.

The Minister thanked the Committee for the constructive discussion and expressed hope that the bill would proceed to a plenary vote soon, enabling the decree to take effect by February 1, 2025. This timeline is intended to reassure consumers amid ongoing inflationary pressures.

Following the session, the Minister indicated that additional amendments would be made to the bill based on input from MPs before the article-by-article review.

The new legislation will encompass all water bottle sizes, as determined by a prior study on specific packaging. Additionally, the bill mandates that sufficient water supply must be available at each designated sales point, adhering to the price set by the decree.

Each structure will choose a specific bottle size to sell at the regulated price, ensuring consistency. The Ministry will also ensure that the decree does not lead to price increases at certain points of sale.