The latest amendments to the Serbian Law on Trade (“Official Gazette” no. 52/2019 and 35/2026 – hereinafter “Amendments”) came into force on 1 May 2026. Below are the most significant changes.

Distance Selling

In distance selling, product declaration information must now be made available to consumers before purchase in a directly and permanently accessible manner, further strengthening consumer protection requirements.

If goods sold through distance selling are dispatched from a retail facility, traders may keep consolidated records for both in-store and distance sales, thereby simplifying record-keeping obligations in practice.

In addition, direct offering to consumers is now permitted only with the consumer’s prior consent to receive such offers.

Price Display and Reductions

Unit prices, where applicable, must now be clearly displayed in a way that is easy for consumers to read and understand.

Promotional sales are limited to a maximum duration of 60 days.

In addition, the “previous price” is defined as the lowest price at which the goods were offered in the 30 days before the discount (or during a shorter period for goods offered for less than 30 days), preventing artificial price increases ahead of promotions and ensuring greater transparency in advertised discounts.

Operational Changes

Traders and service providers may now independently determine their working hours, without the obligation to align them with local self-government regulations.

The Amendments also support the use of electronic identification in trade documentation by allowing accompanying transport documents to contain data on the person authenticated through electronic government services. Such documents may be issued in the form prescribed by the laws governing electronic shipping documents and electronic invoices.

A unified product classification system will be established by the competent ministry, which will likely require businesses to standardize product data across logistics, inventory, and sales processes.

The Amendments also regulate trade at purchase points, as a specific form of wholesale trade in agricultural goods, with the obligation of registration in the registry of purchasers.

 Inspections and Enforcement

The Amendments further regulate inspection procedures by introducing more precise qualification requirements for inspectors and clearer rules for office-based (remote) inspections.

The rules governing the handling of confiscated goods are also clarified, including their storage, sale, transfer, and destruction.

Penalties

The Amendments harmonise the prescribed misdemeanour sanctions with the revised legal framework.

Mitigating and aggravating circumstances are also specified, including, among others: the nature, scope and duration of the infringement, measures taken to remedy or mitigate harm, and any previous infringements.