• President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny, will check if raspberry prices may have been set in an unlawful way.
• Today, inspections in buying stations and at largest processors are starting.
• These are not the only actions of UOKIK on the agricultural and food market.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection monitors the agricultural and food market on an ongoing basis checking possible problems reported by farmers. Proceedings and actions of UOKIK on the milk purchasing market are examples of the latest actions of the Authority. Recently, in turn, media spoke loud of low raspberry purchase prices. Despite the fact that their purchasing procedure has been lasting for over a dozen days only, as early as now you may see that the prices offered are low. In the opinion of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Food Economy, net purchase price in processing plants and freezing chambers on 3-4 July ranged from PLN 5 to PLN 6 per kilo depending on the class of fruit. This is by far less than in comparable period in previous years. UOKIK has received some signals regarding this matter. Therefore, the Authority in cooperation with the Trade Inspection Authority has been investigating into the matter within the statutory framework.

- We are checking if an unlawful understanding might have been made in shaping the prices of this soft fruit and if the largest processors have been unfairly using their advantage. We have instigated preliminary proceedings during which we will verify the practices in 70 selected buying stations located in the lubuskie and mazowieckie provinces. Both regions are leaders in raspberry production - explains Tomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.

The inspections are about to start today. The Trade Inspection Authority, upon the order of President of UOKIK, will investigate into the phenomena occurring on the soft fruit market, that is, first and foremost, it will focus on the manner in which the entities running business activity in purchasing fresh raspberries operate, including in particular the level and manner of determining raspberry prices. The controllers will additionally obtain the information about the prices at which the inspected buying station purchased raspberries, lists of transactions with raspberry recipients and whether the terms and conditions under which the fruit is purchased are fair.

- We will analyse the data obtained on an ongoing basis. Irrespective of the results of the inspection, also today we have started the inspection of five largest raspberry processors in Poland. We want to check who and how determines the raspberry price, if they do it independently and if there exist some irregularities related to using the contractual advantage - explains Tomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.

UOKIK will find out if the raspberry purchase was held in breach of the competition rules or not. Price collusion or market sharing is subject to a penalty of up to 10 per cent of the entrepreneur's turnover for each practice and up to PLN 2 million for individuals managing the company who are directly responsible for the prohibited arrangements. On the other hand, for the unfair use of contractual advantage an entrepreneur is at risk of a fine of maximum 3 percent of their annual turnover.

Entrepreneur, farmer, if you operate in the agricultural and food industry and your major counterparty abuses its competitive advantage by imposing unfavourable conditions of cooperation – report it to UOKiK. We have created a special form to assist you with reporting any irregularities. Click here to fill it out: https://ankieta.uokik.gov.pl/formularz-zgloszenie-przewaga/.

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
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