Parliament calls for simpler rules on price disclosure on advertising material
Parliament wants simpler regulations on the disclosure of prices. On Wednesday, the National Council passed a motion by Councillor of States Filippo Lombardi (CVP/TI) by 120 votes to 54, against the will of the Federal Council and the red-green minority.
The initiative calls on the Federal Council to amend the Price Disclosure Ordinance. In advertising, prices and discounts should no longer have to be communicated on every advertising medium. References to digital sources - such as QR codes or URLs - should suffice.
The majority of the National Council's Legal Affairs Committee (RK) agreed with the proposal. It found that the consumer protection concern of making prices transparent could be better achieved with electronically retrievable information than with small print.
According to the RK, there are now around twenty practical brochures on the implementation of the Price Disclosure Ordinance. The ordinance has become so complex that it is hardly understood anymore, the commission noted.
A minority rejected the motion. Advertising without a price is already permitted today, said spokesperson Lisa Mazzone (Greens/GE). The ordinance also leaves advertisers room for flexibility in their design.
The Federal Council also found the motion to be misguided and insisted on "clearly legible" price information. In its eyes, and also in the eyes of the minority, it is questionable whether consumers are served if they have to stand very close to a poster in order to read a QR code or URL on their cell phone.
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin added that the regulations on price disclosure would be continuously updated in consultation with the cantons and industries. If prices are advertised for products, consumers must know what they are actually paying for what. (SDA)
The brochure "Price Disclosure Ordinance - Practical Guide 2019" can be downloaded from Seco.admin.ch can be downloaded or ordered as a print version.
