The expanded requirement for reference prices and digital price lists has been postponed. Existing duties do not disappear. Consumers also need to distinguish a historical comparison value from a capped price.
The new date is in the official gazette
Croatia's government moved the start of two expanded transparency duties from 1 October to 17 November 2026. Amendments were published in Narodne novine 110/2026 on 29 September and took effect on 30 September. In each case, the start date of the underlying decision was changed.
One concerns additional historical comparison prices at the point of sale or service and in covered advertising. The other requires machine-readable price lists. Both aim to make price movements easier to follow. The postponement does not suspend all existing price-display duties until November.
What sidrena cijena means
Here, the Croatian expression sidrena cijena means a historical reference price. Under the new rule, the regular price applying to the product or service on 10 September 2026 should generally appear beside the current price. Special sales forms are excluded when setting the reference value.
Such a figure shows a change from a fixed date. It does not automatically say whether the offer is cheap compared with other sellers, and it is not a maximum price. The extra label alone does not prohibit a higher current price. Price caps are a different regulatory issue.
Why supermarkets will still show a date from 2025
For already covered goods in food, beverages, cosmetics, cleaning products, toiletries and household products, the new decision expressly preserves the existing comparison date of 2 May 2025. Not every additional price label will therefore move to the same new historical value in November.
Check the stated reference date first. Otherwise a comparison may mix two periods. A product that has become more expensive since May 2025 need not have risen again since September 2026. Both statements may be true at once—or not.
What digital price lists are meant to provide
The second decision requires CSV or XML lists from traders and service providers with their own website. Traders must update product lists by 8 am each working day. Service providers update whenever a price changes, by 8 am on the day the change is published.
Lists are to remain available for 30 days. Product fields include name, code, brand, where relevant unit and unit price, selling and reference prices, barcode and availability. Service lists include name, selling price and reference price. The prescribed technical access is intended to enable automated comparison.
What a good personal comparison still needs
A structured list does not remove the need to check the product. Compare the same pack size, variant and sales location. Note whether a lower price depends on a loyalty card, quantity or limited-time promotion. The per-kilogram or per-litre price may alter the apparent advantage of a smaller pack.
This is practical advice, not an additional legal duty from the two decisions. For services, likewise check the stated scope. Offers with similar names may differ in duration, equipment or included extras.
Read carefully before and after November
Existing rules remain decisive until the new start date. The gazette amendments postpone the expanded decisions; they do not retrospectively erase duties already in force. Businesses therefore need the combination of existing rules, the new decisions and the September amendments.
Expanded publication may help travellers and residents compare prices. Practical implementation will show how accurately data are maintained and presented. An announced file format is not proof every provider will publish error-free data on day one.
Tényállás
Források és dátum
A tényeket a források támasztják alá. A tervezési megjegyzések és ajánlások szerkesztői értékelések.
- Amendment to the reference-price decision, NN 110/2026-1309Narodne novine · 29 September 2026Postponement to 17 November
- Amendment to the price-list decision, NN 110/2026-1310Narodne novine · 29 September 2026Second postponed start date
- Reference prices, NN 101/2026-1212Narodne novine · 11 September 2026Scope, reference dates and continuing duties
- Digital price lists, NN 101/2026-1213Narodne novine · 11 September 2026File formats, updates, availability and data fields
