The government has decided to continue exempting small shops from unit pricing regulations.
In its response to the consultation on improving price transparency and product information for consumers, the Department of Business and Trade has concluded that there is no compelling case for removing the exemption. The majority of respondents to the consultation, including ACS, supported this outcome.
In response, ACS Chief Executive James Lowman, said: “Many convenience stores already show unit prices to help customers to compare across brands and different pack sizes. However this exemption is important especially for small businesses who do not have the systems to calculate unit prices across thousands of lines on their shelves, and in some cases do not have the space to display all the information required.
“This is a sensible decision. We still expect even more retailers to show unit prices voluntarily as they invest in the systems that make this easier to implement.”
The consultation also sought views on a proposed amendment to the Price Marking Order to include requirements for the deposit return scheme.
In response to questions asking whether retailers should display the cost of the deposit separately, so consumers know how much money they will get back if they return the eligible item to a return point, 91% of respondents agreed.
In response to whether the unit price should be calculated exclusive of the deposit, 86% of respondents agreed.
In a consumer survey, when presented with different options on how the deposit should be displayed in practice, three in five preferred to see the selling price and deposit displayed separately.
Defra has notified SGF that it will continue to work with the the Department for Business and Trade as as it works towards amending the Price Marking Order for DRS.
Defra said: “Having considered the responses, particularly the agreement over displaying the cost of the deposit separately on price labelling, we will amend the Price Marking Order so that the selling price displayed excludes the deposit, while the deposit is clearly displayed separately, and the unit price is calculated excluding the deposit.”
