Shrinkflation: Austrian Government Bill on Anti-Deceptive Packaging

Jan 15, 2026 Benn-Ibler Rechtsanwälte

The Austrian Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism has introduced a government bill regarding legislation on misleading packaging. Under this new law, products whose quantity was reduced without a matching decrease in price must be clearly labeled to indicate this change.

This law covers food and drugstore retailers selling goods directly to consumers. Small businesses with sales areas of 400 m² or less are exempt. The legislation is limited to physical retail stores and does not apply to products sold through distance selling or off-premises transactions, as these are not covered by the Anti-Deceptive Packaging Act.

Labelling requirements

• Labelling must show the basic price for both food and non-food products.
• If a product’s quantity drops but the packaging stays the same, a label like 'Attention: less content – higher price' must notify consumers of the increased unit price.
• Labels are required to be displayed for a minimum of 60 days commencing from the initial sale date of the goods.
• If a product’s formulation or ingredients are modified, the obligation to label goods with a reduced quantity remains in effect. This provision ensures that businesses cannot circumvent labeling requirements through minor adjustments to the recipe.

Exceptions

• An increase in the base price of less than three percent is regarded as a minor change and does not need to be labeled.
• If the packaging already includes a clear label or notice indicating the reduced quantity, then the labelling requirement does not apply.

The Anti-Deceptive Packaging Act will take effect on April 1, 2026, and remain in force until June 30, 2030.

Government Bill 309 BlgNR XXVIII. GP (20 November 2025)