Greece Sets Fixed Prices for Basic School Supplies

The Greek Development Ministry announced this week the launch on Aug. 28 of the so-called “School Supplies Basket” which includes basic stationary items at set prices.

The school supplies basket, similar to the previous Easter, godparent, and Lenten baskets, will remain in force until Oct. 15 and comes ahead of the new school year, which kicks off on Sept. 11.

More specifically, the school supplies selling at fixed prices include school bags, pencil cases, notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons and colored markers, erasers, pencil sharpeners, compasses, rulers, and copy paper.

As part of government efforts to keep prices down and to tackle profiteering, Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos chaired a meeting attended by Secretary General of Trade Sotiris Anagnostopoulos, as well as representatives from the Greek Retail Business Association, the Union of Hellenic Chambers, and the Greek Supermarkets Association.

“It is absolutely necessary to support the Greek family and enable school-aged children to have access to everything necessary for their lessons,” said Theodorikakos, adding that all margins for profit reduction must be exhausted and prices should be better than last year.

No increases in school supplies is justified, he said. Retailers found in violation of the listed prices will be faced with stiff penalties. The ministry said it will be carrying out inspections to ensure the items on the list are sold at the given prices.

The minister said that school supplies basket-listed products should be marked and be clearly identifiable by customers.

Source: tovima.com