Preisregelung

Price Control, state interference with prices of goods and services by supervising pricing patterns, mainly in the form of maximum, minimum and recommended prices. In Austria, price control is generally only allowed in exceptional cases. According to the Price Law of 1992, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs may determine "economically necessary prices" if there is imminent danger of a disturbance in supply or if a disturbance has already occurred. Moreover, the Minister of Economic Affairs has to check, upon application, whether a price corresponds to the international price development or if a rise in prices corresponds to the price index. During these procedures a price commission is established as an advisory board, consisting of representatives of the federal ministries and one representative of the Economic Chamber, the Conference of the Presidents of the Chambers of Agriculture and the Federal Chamber of Labour. Price control regularly applies to dairy farming, corn production and animal husbandry and is considerably influenced by the directives of the European Union.