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 fines retailer PLODINE d.d. EUR 15,000 for imposing unfair trading practices
The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) fined PLODINE d.d. from Rijeka EUR 15,000 for the infringement of the Croatian Act on the prohibition of unfair trading practices in the business-to-business food supply chain (UTPs Act). The investigation showed that PLODINE used its strong bargaining power and imposed unfair trading practices on one of its fresh meat suppliers.
The CCA opened ex officio infringement proceeding against the retailer of food and agri products PLODINE within the meaning of the UTPs Act with the view to establishing whether it used its strong bargaining power and imposed unfair trading practices on its fresh meat supplier.
Concretely, the investigation found that in the period from 29 March 2018 to 8 January 2019 PLODINE made payments to its supplier of beef halves exceeding the statutory deadline of 30 days for fresh agri and food products, which constituted an unfair trading practice under the UTPs Act.
Considering the gravity, the scope and the duration of the infringement, the consequences for the suppliers, and a number of mitigating circumstances, the CCA decided to impose a fine in the amount of EUR 15,000. The CCA found that the fine would have a deterrent effect not only on PLODINEE but also on other actors in the food supply chain.