New supermarket code of conduct on discounts and offers takes effect in March. In a statement to the ANA-MPA the general director of the Hellenic Super Market Association Apostolos Petalas, said that this is a European directive which has been adopted by most European countries, including Greece.

"The consumer understands that the discount or offer is made with a reference price. So everything becomes clearer for the consumer," Patalas stressed.

As the Ministry of Development has announced, after months of consultation with supermarkets, food industry, multinationals, to claridied what constitutes a discount and offer and how the relevant promotional activities can be carried out - the code of conduct has been finalized by the General Secretariat of Commerce of the Ministry of Development.

A ten-day period of information and familiarisation of the market will follow, and from Monday 17 March intensive checks will be launched by the relevant departments to ensure the implementation of the code of conduct.