Craft: 'Lift Sunday baking ban for bakers' - German bakeries and small businesses demand urgent reform of outdated trade rules
Germany’s skilled trades are calling for changes to two long-standing regulations. Jörg Dittrich, president of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), has criticised the mandatory receipt rule and the Sunday baking ban. Both issues remain unresolved despite earlier promises from the coalition government.
Dittrich described the mandatory receipt rule as a daily burden for small businesses. He argued that it creates millions of unnecessary thermal-paper receipts, wasting resources and time. The coalition had pledged to scrap the rule for businesses earning over €100,000 annually by January 1, 2027, but no action has been taken yet.
The Sunday baking ban has also come under fire. Under current labour laws, bakeries can only produce and deliver goods for up to three hours on Sundays and public holidays. Dittrich claimed this puts artisan bakers at a disadvantage compared to gas stations and convenience stores, which can warm pre-made rolls without the same restrictions. He pointed out that many bakers and employees would willingly work Sundays for higher pay. The coalition agreement had promised to expand exceptions in the Working Time Act for artisan bakeries. However, no progress has been made, leaving the restrictions in place. Meanwhile, the e-invoicing mandate for B2B transactions, introduced in 2025, remains supported by craft associations like ZDH for its administrative benefits.
The mandatory receipt rule and Sunday baking ban continue to affect small businesses. Without changes, bakeries will remain limited in their Sunday operations, while the receipt requirement stays in force. The government’s earlier commitments to reform these rules have yet to materialise.
