MPs are in January expected to vote into law a bill setting a price cap on bottled water in a bid to protect consumers from exploitation.

During the latest round of discussion on the topic at Tuesday’s House commerce committee, Commerce Minister George Papanastasiou reiterated the cap will only be applicable in specific sites and not across the board, in this way avoiding market intervention.

Supermarkets and kiosks will be exempt from the rule, he told MPs.

Instead, the price cap on bottled water will apply to sites such as airports, stadiums, cinemas, beach cafés and theme parks.

The aim is to ensure that where important goods such as water are concerned “consumers are protected in areas where there is no competition.

“The price of the item should be logical for the consumer first, and also the trader.”

Papanastasiou told MPs the ministry would set the sites where the cap would be implemented and choose the price.

This would be deduced from a specific methodology weighing up consumer and trader benefits.

Head of the competition protection committee said a study revealed the ministry is ready to set the price cap.

The minister underlined they were ready to roll out the measure once the bill is voted into law. It has already been sent to the legal service for assessment

Akel MP Costas Costa disagreed with the fact that the price cap will only apply to 750ml and 500ml bottles, Papanastasiou said they could also include 330ml bottles in the legislation.