The principles of fair cooperation of buyers with the agricultural and food product suppliers are set out in the Prohibition of Unfair Trading Practices Law.
Terms for investigation of infringement by the Competition Council
- ≤ 6 months from the date of case initiation
- ≤ 1 year from the date of case initiation - if it is impossible to make a decision within six months due to objective reasons
- ≤ 2 years from the case initiation - if lengthy finding of facts is required in the case
Fine
- up to 0.2% from the retailer's net turnover in the previous financial year (but not less than 70 euros)
- coercive penalty up to 2% of net turnover of the previous financial year - if the retailer fails to fulfil legal obligations imposed by the authority (but not less than 70 euros for each calendar day until the retailer fulfils its legal obligation)
Warning
The Competition Council, when assessing the circumstances of the infringement, the nature of the infringement and other circumstances relevant to the case, is entitled to replace the decision on the fine with a warning. The warning shall indicate the person responsible for the infringement and the nature of the infringement, and the warning shall be published in accordance with the procedures specified in the Competition Law for the publication of decisions.
The procedures for calculating fines have been stipulated by Cabinet Regulations “Procedures for the Determination of Fines for the Violations Provided for in Section 11, Paragraph one, Section 13 and Section 14.1 of the Competition Law and Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Unfair Retail Trade Practices Prohibition Law” No. 179.
Appeal of a decision adopted by the Competition Council
A decision may be appealed at the Administrative Regional Court within one month from the moment of coming into force of decision.
A judgment of the Administrative Regional Court may be appealed by submitting a cassation claim to the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate of the Supreme Court.
Rights and obligations of procedure participants
A procedure participant shall be entitled to:
- submit evidence, provide explanations
- initiate, that the Competition Council grants the status of restricted access information to the information to be provided (more information here)
- become acquainted with the case materials and express own opinion according to the procedure determined in regulatory enactments
- appeal decisions of the Competition Council
A procedure participant shall be obliged to:
- provide the requested information (also information containing commercial secret) according to the specified term, amount and type of provision of such information
- submit evidence at its disposal and notify the Competition Council of any facts known to the procedure participant, which may be significant in the particular case.
Administrative liability is imposed for non-provision of information at person's disposal to the Competition Council upon request of the authority and according to the specified term and amount, for provision of false information, and non-enforcement of decisions adopted by the Competition Council or legal requests of officials of the Council.