AUSTRALIA: New bill will stop consumers being overcharged for their groceries
Food companies and retailers can no longer charge consumers on the combined weight of a product and packaging after the federal government introduced new laws. Minister for fair trading, John Watkins, revealed that in the past consumers have been overcharged. The bill will mean that consumers only pay for the net weight of the groceries, and Watkins explained: "There will be no incentive to inflate the weight of pre-packaged groceries with layers of packaging."
Food companies and retailers can no longer charge consumers on the combined weight of a product and packaging after the federal government introduced new laws.
Minister for fair trading, John Watkins, revealed that in the past consumers have been overcharged. The bill will mean that consumers only pay for the net weight of the groceries, and Watkins explained: “There will be no incentive to inflate the weight of pre-packaged groceries with layers of packaging.”
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