Some traders have rushed to apply the requirements with the adoption of the euro in Bulgaria and are already announcing the prices of the products in their sites in euros. This was seen by an expert of non-commercial platform „We, the consumers“. To date, the practice in question is a problem and cannot be called good, as it currently violates current consumer legislation. The Consumer Protection Act clearly states that the prices of goods and services must be indicated in BGN.
In one of the outlets, where the prices are indicated in both BGN and EUR, there is a discrepancy in the values. For example, the same product turns out to be worth 6 euros and 12 BGN at the same time. Another is 3.55 EUR and 7 BGN. To make the confusion even greater, in front of the stands with the given items with contradictory prices on their labels in Bulgarian and in foreign currency, there are huge signs with a third number, which is not even clear for which of all the goods near it relates Others have two prices at the same time – 7 and 6 euros. It is prohibited to announce two prices for the same product in a given commercial outlet.
„We, the consumers“ also reminded that according to the law, trader is obliged to place the selling price of the goods in a prominent place and in the immediate vicinity of it in advance. In order not to mislead consumers, the selling price and unit price of goods and services must be unambiguous, easily understood, clearly and legibly written. Trader is obliged to issue a document for the sale, which contains at least the data on the date of the sale, the type of goods or service and the price – again in BGN.
The national plan for the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria provides that the obligation to double mark the prices will come into effect 30 calendar days after the decision of the Council of the European Union and will remain in force 12 months after the adoption of the European currency in our country.
The „Consumer Protection“ working group is responsible at operational level for consumer protection in Bulgaria’s preparations for euro area membership. The leading institutions on the matter are the Ministry of Economy and Industry and the the Consumer Protection Commission. In the words of the minister in charge, the Consumer Protection Commission is in urgent need of reform because of a number of identified violations in its activities and the compromised trust in it in society, but also because of this very important function it is to perform with the introduction of the euro.
