The Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) is beginning a sectoral analysis of the food market for essential goods. This is the first large-scale sectoral study initiated by the new leadership of the antimonopoly authority. The aim is to establish the reasons for the observed increase in prices of basic foods, to propose measures to overcome them and to identify possible violations of competition rules.
The analysis will cover the entire supply chain - from production and distribution to retail. Special attention will be paid to essential products such as eggs, milk and dairy products, meat, flour, bread, oil and others. The main distributors of the food products under investigation are also under investigation.
A special focus will be placed on the risk of unjustified food price increases in connection with the upcoming introduction of the euro. The CPC will monitor price trends until the end of 2025 and in 2026 to ensure the effective functioning of the market and consumer protection.
The Commission has already initiated a comprehensive preliminary study of all data and factors determining the observed price increase in the sector. Information has been requested from manufacturers and traders of fast-moving food products, including retail chains, in order to establish the method of pricing, delivery conditions and factors influencing price changes in the sector.
In the event that facts are established within the framework of the sectoral analysis of the food market that correspond to the elements of violations such as unfair trading practices, abuse of a dominant position or prohibited agreements, the Commission will take action on its own initiative and initiate the relevant proceedings to establish them.
The sectoral analysis will allow for the proposal of appropriate measures and recommendations to address the high prices of essential goods, as well as to assess the extent to which the price increase is economically justified or is the result of anti-competitive or unfair practices that violate the principles of free and fair competition and harm consumers.
When conducting the proceedings, the CPC will cooperate by exchanging data and signals with the National Revenue Agency, the Commission for the Protection of Consumers consumers within the framework of the tripartite agreement, as well as with other competent authorities, with a view to uniting the efforts of the institutions against a possible unjustified increase in prices before and after the introduction of the euro.
The full text of the decision is available in the public electronic register of the CPC at the internet address: http://reg.cpc.bg.
Information falling within the scope of the inspection can be provided to the Commission at the email address: [email protected] or on the CPC platform for anonymous reporting of signals at the address https://www.cpc.bg/signals.