Significant price disparities between essential consumer products in Belgium and France have led to calls from some that monitor the sector to standardise prices at a European level.

The study, published Tuesday, compared the prices of everyday consumer products of 2,605 identical (non-distributor) brands across toiletries, household and cleaning products, frozen food, child products, pet products, drinks and canned food.

According to the study, prices in France (E. Leclerc) are lower than in Belgium (Colruyt) in all categories studied. This ranges from dry goods (44.36% higher in Belgium) to cleaning and household products (27.06% higher) and drinks (28.88% higher).

“If Belgium is more expensive in certain product categories, such as alcohol and beverages, it is mainly due to higher taxation,” Gondola’s CEO, Pierre-Alexandre Billiet, L’Echo, reported on Tuesday.

Martijn Martens, head of research at Gondola, believes consumption decisions should be “standardised at European level,” but this would require unanimity.

Moreover, as consumption is strongly linked to local culture, standardisation will not be easy, she added.

In 2022, Belgians spent €543 million in foreign supermarkets, the Federation of the Belgian Food Industry found. Indeed, most Belgians believe shopping abroad to be cheap, while half the country lives within 50 kilometres of the border.

(Anne-Sophie Gayet | EURACTIV.com)

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