The Office starts a probe into the entire vertical chain for several food products in terms of price increase
„The aim of the investigation is to find out in which part of the vertical chain from primary producers, through food processors to retailers the biggest increase in margins has occurred and whether there is a dysfunction somewhere in this chain which the Office could address in terms of competition rules or significant market power,“ said Petr Mlsna, the Chairman of the Office.
In this context, it is necessary to emphasize the powers of the Office, in particular the fact that the Office is not a price regulator. A high price of a product or an apparently unreasonably high margin does not constitute an infringement of competition rules or the Act on the Significant Market Power. The Office would have to find evidence of a cartel agreement or abuse of a dominant position and/or abuse of significant market power vis-à-vis a supplier aimed directly at the price increase. A high price or margin may indicate that such an offence has been committed, but it is by no means a conclusive proof.
Should the Office discover signs of possible anticompetitive conduct or abuse of significant market power, it initiates administrative proceedings in which fines of up to 10% of annual turnover may be imposed on the offenders.
Press Unit of the Office for the Protection of Competition
23/022
2024-10-16 / The Office is Conducting a Dawn Raid at the Premises of the Undertaking Seznam.cz Following numerous media inquiries, we confirm that the Office for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter referred to as “the Office“) is conducting an unannounced inspection of Seznam.cz
2024-10-01 / Merger of PPF Group and Nordic Telecom May Take Place Subject to Commitments The Office for the Protection of Competition has cleared the merger by its final decision, as a result of which PPF TMT Holdco 2 B.V. may acquire, through O2 Czech Republic a.s., sole control over Nordic...
2024-09-16 / The 2024 St. Martin's Conference Program Will Offer a new Competition Tool and Private Enforcement The Office for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter referred to as "the Office") is preparing the 17th annual St. Martin Conference on trends, news and hot topics in the field of competition. The...
2024-07-11 / English Version of Annual Report 2023 published The Office for the Protection of Competition presents the English version of its annual report for the year 2023, summarising the results of its activities in all areas of its competence, i.e., in the...
2024-06-19 / Office for the Protection of Competition Cooperates with European Public Prosecutor's Office Today in Luxembourg, Mr Petr Mlsna, the Chairman of the Office for the Protection of Competition, signed an agreement with the European chief prosecutor, Ms Laura Codruţa Kövesi, on cooperation between...
2024-05-09 / The Office Revealed and Punished Another Cartel Agreement between Construction Companies The Office for the Protection of Competition imposed fines totalling CZK 7,442,000 on the construction companies B.H.S. BOHEMIA, a.s., SEŽEV facility s.r.o., COMMODUM, spol. s r.o. and Hroší stavby...
2024-04-23 / EP ENERGY TRADING Infringed Competition Act by Early Implementation of Merger With Gazela Energy The Office for the Protection of Competition (the Office) imposed a fine of CZK 18,840,000 on the undertaking EP ENERGY TRADING. for concluding a concentration between undertakings prior to the notification...
2024-04-18 / Sector Inquiry on Waste Management The Office for the Protection of Competition (the Office) has initiated a large-scale sector inquiry focused on waste management. Over the next two years, the Office shall obtain information from all...
