Filenews 9 April 2025 - by Angelos Angelodimou
On the fifth day of Holy Week and Easter, the start of the operation of the e-kalathi application will be decided, on the basis of the last timetable set by the competent authorities.
As Fileleftheros is informed, the last time frame set for the operation of the e-kalathi is tomorrow, Thursday, April 10. However, this, to a large extent, was to depend on the last stress tests that would be carried out over the weekend, but in the end they did not take place. As we are informed, the stress tests would start on Monday and may be completed today or tomorrow. If no problem arises, the authorities will turn on the green light for the e-kalathi to go on the air on Thursday or Friday. Another update will be provided this week all being well.
Even those in charge at the Ministry of Commerce are now reluctant to set a timetable for the start of e-kalathi, given the postponements that have preceded it. However, in practice, it is impossible not to set timetables, given that various factors are involved in the whole effort and there is a need for coordination and goal demarcation. From the supermarkets, to the Consumer Protection Service, the contractor of the project and all the operators and technicians, everyone should move at the same pace in order for the final result to emerge.
It is recalled that the e-kalathi was to be put into operation just before Christmas. However, at the last minute it was decided that it was better to give an extension, so that everything is ready and no unexpected events occur. Now, we are just before Easter and it is still not certain that the application will be able to work in the next few days.
As a mitigating factor in any delays, it can be noted that for the first time the public sector is proceeding with the creation of such a tool, in cooperation with the private sector, which will even require the daily disclosure of prices. That is why special attention is needed, since mistakes cannot be made, which on the one hand will cause confusion to the consumer public and on the other hand will cause damage to supermarkets, from possible incorrect price postings in the relevant tables.
It is recalled that the e-kalathi will initially include 480 products, and then these will gradually increase. 22 entities will participate, which will have the obligation to provide daily feedback to the system with the prices of their products. Supermarkets with an annual turnover of more than €5 million will have this specific obligation. All products that will be included in the e-cart and for which price comparisons will be made must have the same barcode.
