Public consultations were held in Parliament on a draft law on combating unfair commercial practices.
In particular, the debate on the relevant amendments to the Law on Internal Trade, the Law on Competition and the Code of Contraventions took place at the site of the Commission on Economy, Budget and Finance with the participation of deputies, ministers and representatives of other central authorities, the business environment - manufacturers and retail chains, professional associations. According to the press service of the parliament, the bill is aimed at expanding the access of small producers to the placement of products in retail chains and protecting them from illegal conditions. The proposed changes are intended to facilitate negotiations between suppliers of agricultural and food products (manufacturers, processors) and buyers (shops) who offer these products to the final consumer. In particular, the mandatory placement of agricultural and food products on the shelf is proposed. According to the authors, this will open access for small producers to large retail chains, as well as give them more flexibility, predictability and opportunities for development. Opinions and proposals on the bill put forward during public hearings will be studied and taken into account when forming the decision of the commission. The importance of consensus among all stakeholders on the proposed changes was emphasized. As InfoMarket previously reported, in order to protect small producers from illegal conditions and facilitate their access to the placement of products in the country's retail chains, the Law on Domestic Trade will be supplemented with a new chapter - Contractual relations between the supplier and the buyer in the supply of agricultural products and food products, which will regulate in detail the contractual relationship between the supplier and the buyer and the terms of payment, as well as describe prohibited unfair commercial practices. The Competition Council will be empowered to establish, verify, enforce prohibitions and punish unfair commercial practices. The Code of Contraventions will introduce fines for the use of unfair commercial practices: for individuals - from 50 to 100 conventional units and for legal entities - from 200 to 400 conventional units.// 25.07.2022 — InfoMarket.
