Overview

• The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill returns to the Commons on Wednesday for MPs to decide on the Liberal Democrats’ shrinkflation labelling amendment
• Under the proposed change, large supermarkets would have to attach notices showing when product quantities have fallen and unit prices risen for a 60-day period
• Compare the Market’s 2024 research found that staples such as digestive biscuits, butter, crisps and chocolate bars have shrunk in size while their cost per unit climbed
• Liberal Democrat trade spokesman Clive Jones argued that mandating transparent labels will protect stretched household budgets from stealth price hikes during the cost-of-living crisis
• Beyond shrinkflation, the bill grants post-Brexit powers to regulate measurements and labelling and preserves the imperial pint measure for draught beer, cider and milk