Skopje, 20 February 2025 (MIA) — The Competition Protection Commission conducted Thursday five unannounced inspections under the Competition Protection Law and the Prohibition of Unfair Trade Practices in the Supply Chain of Agricultural and Food Products and found evidence of retailers colluding on prices.

Inspectors searched the premises of four grocery store chains and one chamber of commerce, including their electronic communication, and found evidence of illegal collusion.

The retailers had even published their tactic of colluding on social media, the inspectors found.

They had decided not to purchase goods from suppliers who would offer them new price lists. As this is against the law, misdemeanor charges have been pressed.

The inspections were carried out a day after the government's decisions to impose grocery price caps on basic food items and to limit gross profit margins of wholesalers and retailers were published in the Official Gazette.

The grocery price control measures entered into force Thursday and were expected to result in price cuts on some 1,000 food and household items. mr/