HOK: Anchor Prices Bring New Costs to Craftsmen

The new package of measures from the Government of the Republic of Croatia for craftsmen signifies the continuation of measures aimed at maintaining the stability of electricity and gas prices, as well as additional support for farmers and fishermen. Under the 11th package of measures, valued at 260 million euros, the subsidization of electricity prices for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises will continue, ensuring that their prices remain at the current level. The package also includes support for farmers for autumn planting and for fishermen.

For craftsmen, a particularly important decision is the expansion of the existing obligation to display an additional, or “anchor” price to all products and services. For products and services that have not previously been covered by this obligation, the anchor price will be the price that was valid on September 10, 2026, and the new rules will come into effect on October 1. For categories of products that were already covered by the previous obligation – food, beverages, cosmetics, cleaning agents, toiletries, and household products – the anchor price that was valid on May 2, 2025, will still apply.

The change will particularly require adjustments in activities with a large number of individual services and prices. Restaurateurs, hairdressers, beauticians, and many other craftsmen will need to adjust their existing price lists to ensure that alongside the current price, the price that was valid on September 10 is also displayed. The obligation also applies to advertising prices on flyers, posters, digital forms of advertising, outdoors, and on websites. For merchants and service providers with websites, the new rules also impose the obligation to publish price lists in a digital format suitable for automatic processing.

– The goal of transparent information and consumer protection is not disputed, but now the obligation is being extended to a large number of craftsmen and to activities that previously did not have it. This is no longer just about displaying another price. The new rules mean changes to price lists and additional obligations related to their publication and updating for some craftsmen. All of this requires additional time, engagement, and cost. Therefore, we will raise the issue of simpler implementation, clear guidelines for specific activities, and possible adjustments and exemptions with the Ministry. By October 1, craftsmen must know exactly what is expected of them and how to implement the new obligation as simply as possible in practice – emphasized the president of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts Dalibor Kratohvil.

Even at the first introduction of the anchor price, HOK warned about the additional work and costs that such an obligation could bring to craftsmen. Now that the application is being expanded to all products and services, and the obligation to publish digital price lists for those with websites is being introduced, it is especially important that the implementation of the new rules is as simple and clear as possible.

Craftsmen have been directly informed about what currently arises from the decisions made so that they have enough time to prepare by October 1. HOK will continue to work on clarifying the application issues in specific activities and the possibilities for simpler implementation of new obligations and will timely inform craftsmen of all new information.