These 10 laws and amendments will come into force in 2023

The year 2022 is history and the new year is only a few days old. As every year, some changes in the law will also come into force in 2023. We give an overview of the ten most important changes in terms of consumer protection.

New year, new laws: Numerous changes in the law will also come into force in 2023. This is especially true when it comes to consumer protection. As in the previous year, the topic of “energy” also plays a major role. In order to relieve private households, several changes in connection with the energy crisis will come into force.

In addition, there will be a number of sustainability issues in focus in 2023. For example, there will be a new animal welfare label for pork. In order to reduce packaging waste, there is now a reusable obligation for food to go in the catering trade. That comes from one Overview of the consumer center out.

Consumer Protection 2023: These changes and laws come into effect

1. Gas, district heating and electricity: Price brakes are intended to provide financial relief

Rising energy prices are noticeable in the wallet, especially in the winter months. In order to relieve consumers, the federal government has one Gas and electricity price brake decided, which also applies to district heating.

According to current information, it will not come into force until March 2023, but will apply retrospectively from January 1, 2023. For 80 percent of the consumption from the previous year, the following should then apply in this period:

• The gas price is capped at 12 cents per kilowatt hour
• The price cap for electricity is 40 cents per kilowatt hour
• District heating: There is a price cap of 9.5 cents per kilowatt hour

This means that higher prices can only be incurred for consumption in excess of this. In the meantime, emergency aid has already been decided for December 2022, with the state taking over the gas deduction.

2. The 49 euro ticket is coming

The so-called 9-euro ticket has at times dominated the headlines as a relief measure in 2022. At least in terms of sales, the ticket was a complete success. From the spring of 2023, a so-called nationwide Deutschlandticket is to follow.

An exact start date has not yet been set. The possible dates are April 1 and May 1, 2023. The ticket should meanwhile include all trips by bus and train in local transport nationwide. A corresponding subscription should be able to be canceled on a monthly basis.

3. Consumer protection: More housing benefit from January 1, 2023

As a further measure against the energy crisis, the state is increasing this housing benefit from January 1, 2023 to an average of around 190 euros per month. This should make it available to significantly more people in the future.

In numbers, this means that instead of 600,000 people, around two million citizens will be entitled to housing benefit in the future. Whether and who is entitled to housing benefit depends on income, the amount of the rent, the place of residence and other factors. For this, an application must be submitted to the responsible municipality.

4. Citizens’ income replaces Hartz IV

Under a new name, with more benefits and higher allowances, the so-called replaces citizen money as of January 1, 2023, the previous basic security benefit Hartz IV. Instead of 449 euros, the standard rate for single adults should be 502 euros per month.

The so-called allowances for income between 520 and 1,000 euros are to be increased to 30 percent. This should create a greater incentive to take up a job.

In the first year with citizen’s income, there should also be an asset allowance for singles of 40,000 euros. For each additional person in the household, there is a corresponding asset allowance of 15,000 euros. In addition, there should be a subsidy of 150 euros for taking up qualification-related further training.

5. More pension: balance between East and West

Pensions are expected to increase from July 1, 2023 – by 3.5 percent in the west and by 4.2 percent in the east. That goes from the pension insurance report of the federal government. This is the next step in equalizing pensions between East and West. Alignment is expected to be completed on July 1, 2024.

6. Pork receives a new animal welfare label

In 2023, the labeling requirement for the first products in terms of husbandry conditions will come into force. A corresponding law is to come into effect in the summer, which initially regulates the labeling of fresh, unprocessed pork from German production.

There are five different husbandry categories: stall, stall and space, fresh air stall, run/outdoor and organic. In the future, this labeling obligation will also apply to poultry and beef. There is also room for expansion to include gastronomy and products that have already been processed.

7. Gastronomy: Reusable food to go is mandatory

Disposable packaging creates a lot of waste. But that should change from January 1, 2023. Because restaurants, delivery services and caterers will then have to offer reusable containers as an alternative to food to go. However, this does not apply to small businesses such as bakeries or snack bars with fewer than five employees and a maximum sales area of ​​80 square meters.

8. Home insurance prices are rising

Homeowners insurance premiums are expected to increase significantly in 2023. This is mainly due to the flood disaster in summer 2021. Around 91,000 insured residential buildings were destroyed or damaged.

The current inflation rate of around ten percent is also a burden for insurers, as both repair and construction costs are increasing. Those affected should therefore keep a close eye on the contributions of their insurance company and consider changing providers if necessary.

9. Consumer protection 2023: EU class action lawsuit to claim damages

Germany introduced the so-called model declaratory action in 2018. As long as no settlement has been reached, associations can sue for the rights of consumers, who, however, have to assert their specific claims in court as far as possible themselves.

With the so-called EU Class Action However, this is set to change in 2023. Because with this new form of class action, consumer associations can directly sue for repayments or damages for consumers. Those affected do not even have to go to court themselves.

10. The supply chain law takes effect

From 2023, German companies will have a de facto obligation to take responsibility for compliance with ecological standards and human rights along their supply chains. On January 1st, the so-called “Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains” – in short Supply Chain Law – in force.

The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs wants to prevent human rights violations that are prevalent in other countries in the production of electronics, clothing and food. The same applies to wage dumping, environmental pollution and child labor.

The Supply Chain Act therefore obliges German companies to determine the corresponding risks at their suppliers, to take countermeasures and to document them. In addition, they must allow for complaints. Critics, however, complain that the law has too many loopholes – especially since there is no civil liability for violations.

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