MPs decry ‘falsification of truth’ over bottled water prices

The House commerce committee on Tuesday decried a “falsification of the truth by certain circles” over a bill aimed at setting a maximum price of bottled water at certain points of sale.

Committee chairman and Disy MP Kyriacos Hadjiyiannis called on the consumer protection service “to dedicate itself to its mission without falsifying the truth and without making accusations against parliament for the pace with which it discusses the issues in its meetings.”

He moved to clarify that the bill in question would not set a cap on the price of bottled water across the board, “as was wrongly implied to make a show”, but at specific points of sale.

This had been clear in the original bill, which Energy Minister George Papanastasiou had said at the time concerns places which are effectively closed markets, such as airports and ports, “probably also concerns hospitals”.

He added that the bill had been tabled on April 4 and was discussed “as a matter of priority” in two sittings of the committee on June 18 and July 9, with the bill’s progress having been somewhat hindered by the local and European elections which took place on June 9.

Additionally, he said, “the majority of those invited, including the consumers’ association, expressed serious reservations about the provisions of the bill”.

These reservations, he said, included potential increases in the price of other items on sale which are not covered by the bill, potentially increased operating costs for the businesses covered by the bill, and that the bill may lead to “unfair competition” between Cypriot and imported bottled water.

He said that in addition, issues had been raised by committee members regarding the manner in which maximum prices will be determined, and whether the costs of packaging the water and the operating costs of each point of sale will be taken into account.

“We declare our willingness, which we have proven in the past whenever there was a real need to discuss or vote on anything which is to the benefit of the country,” he said.

“We cannot, however, remain silent when non-existent information is spread in the press which harms the prestige and credibility not only of the committee, but of parliament as a whole,” he added.

When the bill was first announced, George Papanastasiou had said, “when it comes to some products, such as water, the price must somehow be controlled, because at these specific points of sale some prices are not justified.”

He accepted that some retailers may react negatively to the plan, as, “they would like to be able to set prices themselves in a free market.”