Communication
The aim of the protection of market competition is primarily to create benefits for consumers and equal conditions for all entrepreneurs on the market, who, acting in accordance with the existing rules and competing on the market with the quality, price and innovation of their products and services, contribute to the overall development of the economy.
CCA opens proceedings against Haier and conducts its first unannounced inspection in collaboration with a competition authority from another Member State
The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) has initiated proceedings against Haier Croatia d.o.o. (formerly Candy Hoover d.o.o.), with its registered office in Zagreb, Slavonska avenija 1B (Haier), in order to determine whether competition has been prevented, restricted or distorted through the conclusion of a prohibited agreement within the meaning of Article 8 of the Croatian Competition Act.
It is suspected that Candy Hoover (Slovenia) and Haier (Croatia) may have engaged in resale price maintenance (RPM) by restricting their distributors’ freedom to determine the resale prices of their products in Slovenia and Croatia.
For the purpose of establishing additional facts and circumstances, and obtaining evidence capable of confirming the indications that led to the initiation of the proceedings in this case, the CCA, pursuant to its powers under the Competition Act and on the basis of an order issued by the High Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia, carried out an unannounced inspection at Haier’s business premises from 16 to 19 June 2026.
At the request of the CCA, the unannounced inspection was conducted simultaneously in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia, in cooperation with the Slovenian competition authority. Such cooperation between the national competition authorities of the EU Member States is provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 and by the provisions of the Competition Act governing cooperation between the CCA, the European Commission and the competition authorities of the EU Member States within the framework of the European Competition Network (ECN).
The CCA notes that this was the first unannounced inspection in the Republic of Croatia to be carried out simultaneously in collaboration with an unannounced inspection in another EU Member State. It is also the first case where the CCA, in the context of proceedings conducted by it, has requested a competition authority of another EU Member State to carry out such an investigative measure.
The CCA will determine whether the undertaking concerned infringed Article 8 of the Competition Act on the basis of the facts as finally established in the proceedings.
In this regard, the CCA emphasises that neither the initiation of the proceedings nor the conduct of the unannounced inspection in this case prejudges the outcome of the proceedings or the CCA final decision.