Price fixing

The Finance Ministry's Tax Inspection Board has put companies that jack up prices despite no significant rise in costs and sectors where firms are suspected of engaging in cartel practices on its radar.

The board is working to identify firms that make profits above the sector average but failed to report their income properly in tax declarations.

The Ministry of Development is considering imposing a limit on promotional actions by retailers through the definition of a maximum percentage of volume and value of a product that will be allowed to be sold under an offer regime, Kathimerini understands.

The price of surgical masks and other commodities that have come in high demand as a result of the coronavirus outbreak will be put under the scrutiny by the Competition Commission to prevent profiteering.
Apart from masks, the products being monitored, according to the watchdog, include disinfectants, long-life milk, rice and pasta.

The Competition Commission has imposed fines totaling 18.83 million euros on five well-known cosmetics companies and Notos Com Holdings for cartel practices.

The Competition Protection Commission of Bulgaria (CPC) has accused six petrol and diesel retailers of forming a cartel in the fuels market.

The companies concerned are Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD, Eko Bulgaria EAD, Shell Bulgaria EAD, OMV Bulgaria OOD, Nis Petrol EOOD, and Petrol AD.

By Dimitra Manifava

The Competition Commission will be focusing its efforts on the energy sector, food and basic household commodities in the coming months, targeting these sectors specifically because they have the biggest direct impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.