(ANSA) - ROME, DECEMBER 10 - The balances of any type of product must be accompanied by the price charged in the last 30 days.
The fine that can be imposed by the Antitrust has also doubled (from 5 to 10 million) for unfair commercial practices.
These are two of the innovations contained in the European Parliament's consumer protection regulations to which the Council of Ministers gave the go-ahead last 2 December with an ad hoc decree.
In addition to the fact that price reduction announcements must indicate the price practiced in the previous 30 days (products which have been on the market for less than thirty days and perishable agricultural and food products are exempt), the promotion of a good, in one Member State, as identical to a good marketed in other Member States, although significantly different in composition or characteristics.
Furthermore, the list of information considered misleading is enriched, also including the indications relating to the characteristics of the bidder.
With regard to the sanction regime: the maximum statutory limit relating to the sanction that can be imposed by the Competition and Market Authority (Agcm) in the event of unfair commercial practice is raised from 5 to 10 million;
in the event of sanctions imposed on cross-border operators on the basis of information also acquired from European Authorities, the sanction is equal to 4% of the turnover achieved in Italy (failing this, the statutory maximum is equal to 2 million euros);
the maximum statutory sanction that can be imposed by the AGCM for non-compliance with emergency measures and those injunctions or removal of the effects and commitments undertaken is increased from 5 to 10 million euros;
the consumer is allowed to appeal to the ordinary judge in case of unfair commercial practices;
the penalty of 5 is foreseen.
000 euros to 10 million for violations of vexatious clauses.
(HANDLE).