The Competition Council (CC) is preparing legislative amendments related to the protection of suppliers of agri-food products.
This was stated by the head of the CC, Alexei Ghertescu, speaking at the Conference on the Retail, Distribution and consumer goods, which took place in Chisinau. He presented the point of view of the antimonopoly authority on issues related to the retail and distribution sector in Moldova. Alexei Ghertescu emphasized that the agri-food sector is a priority for the Competition Council, it is subject to detailed analysis throughout the distribution chain - from agricultural producers to end consumers. The CC is engaged in the identification and investigation of anti-competitive practices, ensures control over economic concentration in retail trade and compliance with the legislation on unfair commercial practices. The central point of the speech was the impact of anti-competitive practices on the market. According to Alexei Ghertescu, agreements on setting resale prices, establishing territorial or client restrictions, as well as other practices can affect competition and therefore require careful monitoring. At the same time, the Investigative Committee strongly recommends that economic operators pay special attention to contracts with suppliers/distributors, especially with those who have a large market share. Herewith, in order to prevent dominant positions on the market, the head of the Investigative Committee recommended that interested parties actively cooperate with the institution’s team before submitting the notification form, as well as be as open as possible during the notification review process. Speaking about unfair trade practices, Alexei Ghertescu emphasized the need to protect suppliers of agri-food products in commercial relations with networks that have a higher negotiating position. According to him, the Competition Council is currently conducting a market study to identify existing imbalances and is preparing amendments to the legislation to bring it into line with European standards. “The agri-food sector is a priority for Moldova. Only by ensuring clear rules and effective market supervision can we guarantee a fair system that stimulates innovation and economic development,” Alexei Ghertescu said, emphasizing that the Investigative Committee will continue to actively cooperate with industry entities to promote a healthy competitive climate.// 04.04.2025 — InfoMarket
