# Austria Proposes Expanded Shop Opening Hours October 20, 2026 at 09:49 AM > State Secretary Josef Schellhorn unveils a plan to extend retail hours and exempt automated stores to improve local grocery access. **Josef Schellhorn**, **Austria**'s State Secretary for Deregulation, is proposing a significant expansion of shop opening hours. The plan targets owner-managed shops where entrepreneurs work personally, alongside staffless local suppliers and automated smart stores. The proposal aligns with **Rewe Austria** head Marcel Haraszti's call to increase weekly limits from 72 to 78 hours. However, retailer **Spar** remains satisfied with current laws. A Neos party legislative draft is expected for government coordination in October 2026. This initiative addresses a **KMU Forschung Austria** study finding 423,000 residents lack local grocery access. By exempting staffless containers from strict Opening Hours Act rulings, officials aim to restore vital supply chains in underserved municipalities. [#Austria]() #Retail #Deregulation #SmartStores [#Economy]() ## Related news ## [Austrian Fuel Prices May Rise 95 Cents by 2035]() October 20, 2026 at 08:39 AM ## [Handelsverband Petition Fights Austria Parcel Tax]() October 19, 2026 at 09:22 AM ## [Austria's Inflation Rises to 3.6% in September]() October 16, 2026 at 09:46 AM ## [Nine Percent of Austrians Plan to Start a Company]() October 6, 2026 at 10:37 AM ## [Austria's Inflation Rises to 3.6% in September]() October 2, 2026 at 08:35 AM