Unfair Trading Practices in Food Supply Chain Examined

Headnote

SLOVENIA

The Competition Protection Agency recently published the results of a survey on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, which the agency conducted among suppliers of food products, including producers, purchasers, processing companies and intermediaries. Despite the small number of responses, the agency obtained some useful information on the functioning of the Slovenian food market.

Background

Unfair trading practices in the food supply chain are regulated in the Agriculture Act(1) and are defined as practices imposed by one contracting party with significant market power (evident from the volume or value of sales) on another party contrary to good business practices - in particular:

* the failure to comply with the prescribed payment deadlines; or

* the imposition of unfair conditions, including:

* additional payments, discounts, promotions or other services;

* unfair delivery terms;

* countertrade under uncompetitive conditions;

* additional...