Croatia to mandate dual pricing on restaurant menus from October

Starting October 1, 2026, businesses in Croatia, including restaurants, cafes, hair salons, and craft businesses, will be required to display two prices for goods and services. This new regulation mandates the inclusion of an “anchor price” (sidrena cijena) alongside the current price. The anchor price will reflect the cost of the item as of September 10, 2026, to provide consumers with greater transparency regarding price fluctuations.

Economic Minister Ante Šušnjar stated the measure aims to help consumers easily identify how much prices have changed. The rule extends to digital menus, which must be published as machine-readable files, and outdoor advertising boards. Businesses must update digital price lists by 8:00 AM on the day a change takes effect, and previous versions must remain accessible for 30 days.

The gastronomy sector has expressed significant concern. Franz Letica, president of the Zagreb Gastronomy Association, warned that the dual-pricing system could cause confusion among customers and create “ridiculous scenes” at tables. Some business owners are considering legal action to challenge the constitutionality of the rules. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to 2,000 euros for individuals and up to 27,000 euros for legal entities.