Rules by country / Germany
Which German food and drink rules change your prices?
Pick what you sell. You see only the rules that hit you, what each one means for your prices, and how we help.
6 rules change prices for German food and drink
Coming next first. Open a rule for the detail and our service.
1 Jul 2027Planned Sugar tax on soft drinksSugary soft drinks would pay 26 or 32 cents a litre, if parliament agrees. 32 centsa litre at 8g of sugar or more Our serviceSugar tax reviewfrom £7,500
26 cents a litre from 5g to 8g of sugar per 100ml, 32 cents at 8g or more. Pure juices, milk drinks and drinks with only sweeteners stay out.
Makers and importers of more than 70,000 litres a year.
Pass it on, absorb it or cut sugar, product by product.
12 Aug 2026Phasing in EU packaging regulationThe EU's packaging rules apply since 12 August 2026, with targets for recycled plastic and reuse from 2030. 30%recycled plastic in plastic drinks bottles by 2030 Our serviceCost pass-on planfrom £7,500
The same sorting labels across the EU from August 2028. From 2030, 30% recycled plastic in plastic drinks bottles and 10% of drinks in reusable packs.
Every brand selling packaged food or drink in the EU.
Which packs to change, and how much of the cost each product can carry in its price.
Since 2003In force Deposit on bottles and cans (Pfand)25 cents on every single-use plastic bottle and can, milk drinks in plastic bottles included since 2024. 25 centson each single-use bottle or can Our servicePrice and pack planfrom £7,500
Refillable bottles carry 8 to 15 cents. Shops show the deposit next to the price, not in it.
Drinks brands selling in Germany, multipacks most: a 24-can tray carries €6 in deposits.
Shelf prices and pack sizes, with the deposit on top of the price shoppers see.
In forceIn force Ban on selling food below costRetailers with superior market power may not sell food for less than they paid for it. Net costthe floor for a big retailer's deals Our servicePromotion planfrom £7,500
The floor is the purchase price after the discounts already certain. Exceptions only to stop food spoiling or becoming unsaleable.
Brands planning deep deals with the big German grocers.
How deep each deal can go, and which deals still pay.
Since May 2022In force Lowest price in 30 days ruleAny price cut you announce must be measured from the lowest price of the last 30 days. 30 daysthe look-back for any 'was' price Our servicePromotion planfrom £7,500
Germany applies the EU rule in its Price Indication Ordinance (PAngV). Promotions close together shrink the discount you can claim.
Anyone announcing price cuts to shoppers, in store or online.
The rhythm and depth of promotions, so the discount you can show still sells.
Since 2021In force Unfair trading practices rulesBig buyers may not pay late, change terms on their own or charge fees that weren't agreed in advance. 60 daysthe latest payment for non-perishables Our serviceEvidence packfrom £7,500
Perishables must be paid within 30 days. Fees for listing, promotions or marketing only if agreed clearly in advance.
Food and drink suppliers selling to bigger buyers.
Your evidence for each price request: how your sales respond to price.
Also worth knowing 1 rule with no direct effect on your prices
- Nutri-Score
A voluntary A to E label on the front of pack, with a stricter formula for drinks.
How it works
One fixed price, agreed before we start. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in euros are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us what you sell and which rules worry you. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Weekly sales by product and retailer, and your costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
Prices and promotions for every product, with the profit of each choice, walked through with your team.
Questions
Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.
How much is the Pfand in Germany?
25 cents on single-use plastic bottles and cans, including milk drinks in plastic bottles since 2024. Refillable bottles carry 8 to 15 cents. Shops show the deposit next to the price, not in it, so a 24-can tray carries €6 on top of its price.
What are the food rules in Germany that change prices?
The deposit (Pfand), the ban on big retailers selling food below cost, the EU's 30-day rule for price cuts and its unfair trading practices rules are in force. The EU packaging regulation applies since 12 August 2026, and a sugar tax on soft drinks is planned for 1 July 2027 if parliament agrees.
How much does a pricing review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about €9,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review costs around £17,500 (about €21,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Sources for every rule on this page
- FoodNavigator, What Germany's proposed sugar tax means for drinks brands (15 October 2026) Checked on 2026-10-20.
- Baker McKenzie, EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Checked on 2026-10-20.
- Sensoneo, Overview and results of deposit return schemes in Europe (updated August 2026) Checked on 2026-10-20.
- German Bundestag research service, WD 5 - 3000 - 102/23 (27 November 2023) Checked on 2026-10-25.
- RPC, European Commission publishes guidance on price promotions under the Omnibus Directive Checked on 2026-10-20.