Report that liquidation will take place

Up to 15 working days before the start of a liquidation period, it is mandatory to submit a declaration to the Economic and Food Safety Authority (ASAE). In other words, you must submit a form stating that liquidation will take place, indicating the dates and reason for the liquidation.

The form is completed online free of charge.

Service channels

  • Online

    To access this service you need to login with one of the following means of authentication:

    Authentication issues with Digital Mobile Key

    • If you have problems accessing the service during the authentication process, we suggest authenticating directly on the portal and then accessing the service.

    Video call support

    • This service can be performed with video call support. Click on the "Support" button on the right side of the page to schedule a video call.

  • Citizen Spots and Business Spots

    This service can be done at the Citizen Spots and Business Spots that offer the service.

  • You can get support or carry out this service over the phone. To carry out the service by telephone you need to:

    • have the Digital Mobile Key (CMD) active
    • have the id.gov.pt app for Android, Huawei or iOS installed on a smartphone with biometrics capabilities (facial recognition or fingerprint).

    Call 210 489 010 or 300 003 990 (business days from 9am to 6pm).

    • If you need to attach documents, you won't be able to carry out the service over the phone.
    Call 210 489 010

Procedure and requirements

Procedure

The situations in which liquidation may take place

  • There must be a valid reason for liquidation to take place. The valid reasons are as follows:
  • court decision;
  • total or partial cessation of activity;
  • change of industry;
  • transfer or cessation of the establishment’s operations;
  • works in the establishment that prevent it from functioning;
  • damage to the goods to be sold caused by force majeure.

How far in advance you must notify that liquidation will take place
The declaration that liquidation is to take place must be submitted at least 15 working days before the start of the liquidation period.

To submit the declaration, you will need a means of authentication
To prove your identity, you must use one of the following means of authentication:

Once you have your chosen means of authentication to hand, follow these steps:

  1. Click on ‘Access the service’ button on this page.
  2. Authenticate yourself.
  3. Fill in the ‘Declaração de realização de liquidação’ [Declaration of liquidation] form.
  4. If someone else is filling in the form on behalf of the business owner, they must indicate the access code for the online power of attorney in the ‘Código de Consulta’ [Consultation Code] field (obtain power of attorney online).
  5. Click ‘Submeter’ (‘Submit’).
  6. Download or print a certificate proving that you have submitted the form.

The certificate of submission of the declaration is proof that you have fulfilled your legal obligation.
Store it carefully. You need to show it if there is an inspection by ASAE.

Maximum duration of a liquidation period
Liquidation can last up to 90 days.

Information that must be provided at the establishment
The following must be clearly indicated:

  • that liquidation is ongoing;
  • the start and end dates of the liquidation.

How to indicate the prices of goods

  • Product labels, notices and price lists must include the following two pieces of information:
  • the reduced price (new price);
  • the initial price (lowest price previously charged).

In addition, they may indicate the percentage reduction of the price.

If there is a clearly identified set of products for which the reduced price is indicated or on which the same percentage reduction is applied, only the initial price may remain on the products.

When a new liquidation can take place at the same establishment

In most cases, 2 years must have passed since the last liquidation in order to be able to carry out a new liquidation at the same establishment. Exceptions apply for liquidation for any of the following reasons:

  • a court decision;
  • damage to the goods to be sold caused by force majeure.

 

Time of issue/decision

null

How much

Free of charge.

Validity

The liquidation period should not exceed 90 days.

Deadline for new liquidation:

The same merchant may not carry out a new liquidation in the same establishment before the period of 2 years has elapsed from the completion of the previous one, except in the following cases:

  • Sale made in compliance with a court decision;
  • Damage caused in whole or in part to the stock due to force majeure

Obligations

The communication must be made 15 days prior to the beginning of the sale in liquidation.

The liquidation period must not exceed 90 days.

It must be indicated:

  • The facts that justify carrying out the liquidation
  • The identification of the products to be sold
  • The address of the place where the liquidation will occur
  • The start and end date of the liquidation.

Legislation, refusals, contests, claims

Legislation

Decree-Law No 70/2007 of 26 March (see the consolidated version, i.e. the version containing all the amendments made to this Decree-Law).

Reasons for refusal

The economic operator must comply with the legal minimum notice period (15 working days).

Competent Entity

Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica

Address: Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca n.º 73 1269-274 LISBOA

Phone number: 21 798 36 00

Fax: 21 798 36 54

Email address: correio.asae@asae.pt

Web url: www.asae.pt

Operation hours

  • Dias úteis das 09:00h às 12:30h.
  • Dias úteis das 14:00h às 17:30h.