The price displayed on a fuel pump is the amount consumers pay per litre. What it does not show is how that final price is calculated or how much of the cost relates to the fuel itself, taxes and other charges.
As a result, motorists know the total cost of filling their tanks, but do not have access to a detailed breakdown of what makes up that amount.
A legislative proposal by DISY MP Nikos Georgiou seeks to address that information gap. The proposal, which is expected to be discussed and voted on at Thursday's plenary session of the House of Representatives, would amend the Consumer Protection Law to make it mandatory for fuel retailers to provide a clear itemised breakdown of the elements that make up the final fuel price.
The aim is for consumers to know not only how much they are paying, but also how the amount is divided between the value of the fuel, taxes and other levies.
What would appear on the receipt
Under the proposed legislation, fuel receipts would be required to include at least the following information:
- The quantity of fuel purchased.
- The base fuel price per litre, excluding taxes and other charges.
- The excise duty per litre.
- Other government fees, levies, taxes and charges, including those arising from European Union legislation and incorporated into the final price.
- VAT and the amount on which it is calculated.
- The final price per litre.
- The total amount payable by the customer.
Under this system, receipts would no longer simply confirm the transaction and display the amount due. Instead, they would present all key pricing components in one place.
Consumers would, for example, be able to see what portion of the charge reflects the underlying value of the fuel and what portion relates to taxation and other charges.
Greater transparency
Speaking to Politis, Georgiou said the proposal would allow citizens to see all elements of a fuel transaction in a single document.
For example, consumers would be able to identify the value of the fuel before taxes are applied and determine exactly how much of the final cost consists of tax-related charges.
According to Georgiou, this distinction is important because taxes form part of the final retail price without current receipts showing how each element contributes to the overall cost.
The proposal seeks to make that information immediately available, without requiring consumers to consult different sources or have prior knowledge of how fuel taxation is calculated.
The objective, he said, is to provide consumers with a clearer understanding of an expense they incur regularly, while also giving them a more effective means of checking their transactions.
A tool for accountability
“The need for enhanced transparency becomes even more important during periods of sharp fluctuations in international oil and fuel prices, when the final price paid by consumers is influenced by multiple factors,” Georgiou told Politis.
“The proposed regulation therefore serves the public interest by strengthening consumer information, improving market transparency and enhancing the ability for meaningful parliamentary and regulatory oversight of price formation.”
He clarified that an itemised receipt would not replace regulatory inspections or act by itself as a mechanism for identifying unfair practices.
However, it could operate alongside market supervision measures by improving public information and strengthening accountability.
Consumers' right to know
The proposal is based on the principle that consumers have the right to understand how the amount they pay is calculated.
In a market where fuel prices directly affect household budgets and business operating costs, information should not be limited to the final charge, Georgiou argues.
If approved and implemented, fuel receipts would provide a fuller picture of every purchase, with separate identification of the base fuel price, taxes and other charges.
Consumers would therefore be able to understand more easily how the final amount they pay is formed, increasing transparency in a market that affects their finances on a daily basis.
Will the government support it?
The position of the executive branch, and especially the Ministry of Energy, is expected to attract significant attention as the proposal moves forward.
This is because mandatory disclosure of all charges on fuel receipts could increase pressure on both the current and future governments to reduce fuel-related taxes and levies.
If the proposal becomes law, the taxes imposed on every litre of fuel, as well as other charges that remain largely unknown to most consumers today, would be clearly displayed and quantified for every customer.
