Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated on Thursday, at the beginning of the Government meeting, that some stores have reduced the weight of products. However, prices were kept at the same level.
The prime minister highlighted an increasingly common problem in Europe and in the country. Marcel Ciolacu talked about the practice of some merchants to reduce the weight of products without lowering prices.
The Prime Minister attacked traders who reduce the weight but maintain the price
In his opinion, this is perceived as a form of deception against consumers. Marcel Ciolacu showed that it is a way to hide the increase in prices under the pretext of similar packaging.
“I’m starting with a topic that, unfortunately, is increasingly present in European countries and it seems that it has also reached us: the fact that some traders have reduced the weight of products, but left the prices as high.
I consider this to be a form of consumer fraud! It is actually a “camouflaged” increase in price under a very similar package”, said the PSD leader in the Government meeting.
Marcel Ciolacu is asking for a law like in France
The Prime Minister asked the control authorities to intervene urgently. He proposed a regulation similar to that adopted in France.
It’s about forcing manufacturers to clearly indicate on the packaging of the products the weight reduction, if the price remains unchanged.
“I ask all control authorities in Romania to intervene urgently!
And in parallel, let’s prepare a regulation, on the French model: manufacturers must be obliged to visibly indicate on the packaging that they have reduced the weight, if the price of the product has remained unchanged. And, obviously, harsh sanctions for non-compliance with this obligation,” the prime minister said.
French retailers are required to inform customers
French retailers will be required to inform customers when the size of products is reduced without a corresponding price reduction, in the fight against the phenomenon known as “shrinkflation”.
Starting in July, retailers in France will have to display for two months information about reducing the quantity of food and other common consumer goods, such as detergent, in a way that leads to an increase in the unit price, the ministry said .
12 million lei for fixing the problem of the damaged soil in Slănic Prahova
Also today, May 9, Marcel Ciolacu announced that during the Government meeting, an emergency fund will be allocated to remedy the problem of the broken soil at Slănic Prahova, which created a crater. He showed that it is a necessary measure to ensure the safety of the residents of the area.
According to the prime minister, approximately 12 million lei will be allocated for the continuation of soil stabilization works, and the prime minister expresses the hope that the situation will return to normal in the shortest possible time.
