The Euro Observatory has signed another two price stability agreements, bringing the total number of importers signing up to price stability agreements up to 17. These agreements cover over 6,700 fast moving consumer goods and services, the National Euro Changeover Committee said.

The latest two agreements were signed with Charles Darmanin Co. Ltd on all products related to the Kelloggs brand, and a number of fast moving medicines imported by AM Mangion Limited.

The companies signing these price stability agreements have voluntarily agreed to maintain the price of a whole range of products from last October until March, as a clear confidence-building message to consumers in the run up to the adoption of the euro. The importers, distributors and manufacturers who have signed the price stability agreements are guaranteeing their current recommended retail prices till the end of March.

A similar exercise took place in France in 2002, when France adopted the euro. In France, price stability agreements were signed for the three months prior to and after euro adoption. Price stability agreements assist both consumers and retailers to familiarize and memorise prices of essential items in euro during the most sensitive period of the currency changeover.

A booklet containing the whole list of the 6,700 products covered in the price stability agreements can be found on www.euro.gov.mt. This booklet will soon be available for consumers from euro centres across Malta and Gozo.

Consumers wishing to raise an unjustified price rise complaint, can lodge their complaint either through Linja Ewro 154 or the website www.euro.gov.mt. Such complaints will be dealt with through the Euro Observatory and will be investigated.