Memo: Penalties in case of non-respect of the conversion rules

In the early days of 2002 and until the end of the transition period, citizens will start paying in euro but will very often still pay attention to the price expressed in the national currency unit. Respecting the conversion rules while making a dual display of prices is therefore a key element to preserve customer confidence. The protection of the customer against potential fraud is ensured by all national legislations: intentional violations can lead to heavy penal sanctions, while accidental mistakes generally could give rise to compensation for possible loss.