The year 2022 brings numerous changes with it

Created: 01/05/2022, 07:30 AM

From: Michaela Breuninger

There has been a ban on plastic bags since the beginning of the year, but there are exceptions: the thin shirt and nodule bags, which are mostly used for packing loose fruit or vegetables, are still allowed.

© Breuninger

Memmingen / Region - At the beginning of 2022, numerous legislative changes, new rules and new ordinances came into force again.

Here are some of the most important ones at a glance:

• CO2 price:

  the CO2 price will rise in 2022.

  Instead of 25 euros per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted, 30 euros are due.

  The increase will also have an impact on fuel prices and heating costs.

• Train tickets:

  With Deutsche Bahn, tickets can no longer be bought from the conductor on the train.

  As an alternative, a digital ticket can be booked on www.bahn.de or via the app.

• EEG surcharge:

  At the turn of the year, the surcharge for financing green electricity (EEG surcharge) drops to 3.723 cents per kilowatt hour - and thus by more than 40 percent.

  However, this should not make the electricity cheaper, since the levy only makes up part of the price and the suppliers also pay more for purchases than they did a year ago.

• Warranty:

  Anyone who later discovers a defect in a purchased product may have better cards from January: The warranty is extended from six months to one year.

• Minimum wage:

  As early as January 1st, the minimum wage should rise to 9.82 euros / hour.

  On July 1, there will be a further increase to 10.45 euros / hour.

• Killing chicks:

  From January 1st, the killing of male chicks by the million should finally come to an end.

  Instead, the sex of the chick should now be determined in advance.

• Deposit obligation:

  The deposit obligation for drinks in plastic bottles is being expanded - also for juices and smoothies.

  Beverage cans are also subject to a deposit without exception.

• Plastic bags

  : Single-use plastic carrier bags will be banned from January 2022 and will disappear from stores.

  But there are exceptions: The so-called shirt or Knöllchen bags, which are mostly used for packing loose fruit and vegetables, are still allowed.

• Plug-in hybrids:

  Buyers of plug-in hybrids (cars that have a combustion engine as well as an electric motor that is charged via a power cable) could no longer benefit from government subsidies.

  Because the prescribed electric range increases from 40 to 60 kilometers.

• Postage:

  Deutsche Post is increasing the postage fees, including letters by five cents and postcards by ten cents.

• Tobacco tax:

  Smoking is becoming more expensive: The tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes increases by an average of 10 cents.

  The tax screw will also be turned with water pipe tobacco and liquids for e-cigarettes - but not until July 1, 2022.

• Tattoo inks:

  In order to make tattoo inks and permanent make-up safer, many chemicals in tattoo inks throughout the EU will be subject to the restrictions imposed by the so-called REACH regulation from January 4th.

  Thousands of substances are then on the banned list, as many are potentially dangerous from the EU perspective and not adequately researched.

  The tattoos will therefore be a little less colorful in the future.

As is so often the case at the turn of the year, there will be some innovations and changes at the beginning of 2022 - with all their advantages and disadvantages.