Hungary’s Retail Margin Caps Are Now Subject to CJEU Proceedings. Here Is What That Means for Drinks.

The European Commission has decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the country’s retail profit margin caps, which require certain retailers to sell food products at a margin of no more than 10% above their purchase price and drugstore articles at no more than 15%. The Commission confirmed the referral today, having previously sent formal letters of notice to Budapest in June 2025 and reasoned opinions in December 2025. Hungary failed to satisfy either stage of the infringement procedure.