Shrinkflation: obligation to inform consumers about the products concerned by 1 July!

As a reminder, "shrinkflation" (also called reduction) is the term used to define the commercial practice whereby the price of the product increases or remains the same while the quantity sold decreases.

Although legal, this practice is controversial because the consumer cannot detect it at the time of purchase.

Thus, for greater transparency, distributors in medium and large areas (companies or groups of natural or legal persons) must, from 1^er july 2024, inform the consumer of the consumer products concerned by this practice of "shrinkflation".

What information should be communicated?

The information notice to be displayed on the packaging of the product or on a label placed close to the product concerned is:

‘For this product, the quantity sold has increased from X to Y and its price to (specify the unit of measurement concerned) has increased by ...% or ...€.’.

The values X and Y are expressed by weight or by volume.

This indication must be displayed in a visible, legible manner and with the same font size as that used for the indication of the price of the product.

Which products are concerned?

The statutory information requirements relating to ‘shrinkflation’ relate to the following consumer prepackaged products:

• the foodstuffs ;
• the non-food products sold in a constant quantity (weight or volume) (household products, baby products...).

What sanctions?

Failure to comply with these new obligations will be punished by a fine of:

• €3,000 maximum for a natural person ;
• €15,000 maximum for a legal person.

In addition, police officers DGCCRF: titleContent may also issue injunctions against institutions failing to fulfill their obligations.

These injunction measures may be the subject of an advertising measure (press release, awareness message...) at the expense of the professional concerned.