​The Competition Council has launched three investigations into possible price-fixing agreements for sunflower oil, butter and sugar, conducting surprise inspections of 13 producers, the agency said on Thursday.

• “We have suspicions that some manufacturers have taken advantage of the current economic context, namely rising inflation, and agreed to further increase the selling prices of some products, thereby obtaining higher, undeserved profits. If, after investigation, we find such practices, we will strictly deal with them authorize”, – said Bohdan Chiritsoyu, President of the Competition Council.

Thus, as part of three investigations, unannounced inspections were carried out at the headquarters and workplaces of several companies in the sunflower oil production and marketing market, such as Bunge România SRL, Expur SA, Prutul SA and Ardealul SA, but also from the production market and butter marketing, among the target companies Albalact, Covalact and Dorna Lactate (part of the Lactalis group), Friesland Romania SA, Lacto Food SRL and Fabrica de Lapte Braşov (Olympus).

Regarding the sugar production and commercialization market, inspections were carried out at Agrana România SRL, Pfeifer & Langen România SRL and Luxor Impex SRL.

Documents obtained during unannounced inspections are analyzed by the Romanian competition authority within the framework of special procedures.

Unannounced inspections are authorized by the Bucharest Court of Appeal and are justified by the need to obtain all the information and documents necessary to clarify the possible anti-competitive practices being analyzed. This does not prejudge the guilt of the companies.

The Competition Law prohibits any agreements between companies and concerted practices that prevent, limit or distort competition in the Romanian market, especially those that fix purchase or sale prices or any other terms of trade.

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