The most important changes in 2023 for consumers at a glance
Price controls in the energy sector
The energy crisis is particularly noticeable for consumers in winter. Therefore, in addition to the existing financial relief, price brakes for electricity, gas and district heating should come into effect from 2023. “According to the current status, these should come into force in March 2023 and apply until April 30, 2024 at the latest,” informs Saupe.
The relief contributions for the months of January and February 2023 are to be reimbursed retroactively in March. During the relief period, a capped electricity price of 40 cents per kilowatt hour should apply to 80 percent of the previous year's consumption. The price cap for gas is 12 cents per kilowatt hour and for district heating it is 9.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Users must pay the valid contract price for consumption above this amount. However, unlawful price increases should be prevented.
According to this, the prices for electricity, gas and district heating should generally not be allowed to be increased in 2023 unless the supplier can prove that a price increase is objectively justified. In addition to these reliefs, hardship regulations may be considered in individual cases for consumers who are particularly affected by rising energy prices. This also applies to those who heat with other heating media such as oil or wood pellets.
Private solar systems
To ensure that the expansion of renewable energies progresses, relief is also planned for private photovoltaic (PV) home systems. From January 2023, sales tax and probably also income tax will no longer apply to PV systems with an output of up to 30 kilowatts (kWp). The new version of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) is intended to promote not only PV systems on roofs, but also, for example, on garages or gardens if the house roof is unsuitable. Anyone who feeds some or all of the electricity generated by a PV system into the power grid will receive higher remuneration in the future. In addition, it should be possible to install two PV systems on one roof in order to achieve full and partial feed-in.
Environmental bonus for electric cars is decreasing
While the subsidy for plug-in hybrid vehicles has been completely eliminated, purely electrically powered vehicles will continue to be subsidized, although with a significantly lower government subsidy. Depending on the net list price, there is government funding of between 3,000 and 4,500 euros. From 2024, the funding rates will decrease again. Those interested should remember that funding can only be applied for after the vehicle has been registered for the first time. “If you still want to use the funding in 2023, you should find out about the delivery times well in advance,” advises Saupe.
Germany ticket for local transport
In order to further relieve the financial burden on consumers, the nationwide Deutschlandticket is expected to be introduced on April 1, 2023. For an initial 49 euros per month, consumers can use all local and regional public transport buses and trains. From the second year onwards it could become more expensive, as the transport ministers are currently planning to make things more dynamic in the form of automatic inflation compensation. The ticket will be available digitally as a monthly subscription. It is still unclear whether it will also be available for purchase in paper format at ticket machines.
Animal husbandry labeling for pork
From mid-2023, the new labeling will start in a first step with meat from German-produced pigs. There are five husbandry categories: stable, stable and place, fresh air stable, run/free range and organic. The labeling requirement for other animal species will follow later and will be expanded to include processed meat and the catering industry.
New maximum levels for hydrogen cyanide and ochratoxin (OTA)
Even though hydrogen cyanide and the mold toxin ochratoxin occur naturally in foods, they can be harmful to health in excessive amounts. For OTA, the existing maximum levels for many foods are to be further reduced from January 2023 and new maximum levels are to be set. This affects, for example, foods such as instant coffee, dried fruits, licorice products, cocoa powder and spices. So far, there is only a maximum level for hydrogen cyanide for apricot kernels. This will now be expanded to include linseed, almonds and cassava. There are still no maximum values for small amounts of linseed and bitter almonds, but only a warning that these products must not be consumed raw.
Reusable takeaway food requirement
From 2023, reusable containers for take-away and ordering food and drinks will help to avoid waste, save raw materials and thus protect the environment. From January 2023, caterers, delivery services and restaurants will be required to also offer reusable containers as an alternative to single-use plastic food packaging and single-use drink cups for takeaway and ordering food and drinks. The operators must clearly point this out and may not charge a higher price.
There should be an exception for small businesses with a maximum of five employees and a maximum of 80 square meters of sales space as well as for vending machines. However, you must accept containers that customers bring with them and, if they request, fill them with take-away food and drinks. This possibility must also be clearly pointed out. However, these new legal requirements only apply to plastic packaging. “All other disposable alternatives such as pizza boxes or aluminum trays remain permitted even without an alternative offer,” says Saupe.
Supply Chain Act
Millions of people around the world live in poverty and misery, also because minimum social standards such as the ban on forced labor and child labor are ignored. To change that, the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act will come into force on January 1st. The law sets out clear requirements for the due diligence obligations of companies with more than 3,000 employees in Germany.
From 2024, the law will also apply to companies with more than 1,000 employees. The companies' responsibility basically extends to the entire supply chain from raw materials to the finished sales product. Companies must identify risks of human rights violations and environmental destruction with direct suppliers and, if necessary, with indirect suppliers, take countermeasures and document them accordingly. In addition, companies must set up complaint options. The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control checks compliance with the law and can also impose fines. However, there is no provision for civil liability.
EU collective action
Whether diesel scandals or incorrectly calculated interest rates: consumers are repeatedly affected by mass losses. So that those affected do not have to assert their rights individually, the model declaratory action was introduced in 2018. This allows key legal and factual questions to be clarified in court proceedings that affect many consumers equally. However, the specific claims must still be asserted by each individual as long as no settlement is reached.
The new EU collective action directive will change this. With the implementation of the directive, consumer associations can directly sue for damages and other benefits to consumers without them having to go to court again. “The EU collective action therefore goes beyond the model declaratory action and complements it in a meaningful way,” says Saupe. The directive must be implemented into German law by December 25, 2022, but will then only come into force on June 25, 2023.
Source:
Saxony Consumer Center
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