Skopje, 23 April 2025 (MIA) - The Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) on Wednesday called on all large retail chains, supermarkets, suppliers and distributors to act strictly in accordance with the law banning unfair trade practices in order to ensure a fair, transparent and legal market in the interest of the economy, producers and consumers.

The Commission notes that the law bans abuse of significant market power, including unilateral changes to contracts, unjustified delays in payments, forced return of products, imposed costs and other conditions that violate the equal position of market participants. The CPC points out that any retailer who puts pressure on a supplier, blackmails them or dictates conditions beyond the legal and contractual basis is subject to misdemeanour proceedings and risks serious sanctions.

"The law is clear – fair trade is not an option, but an obligation. We are not fighting against businesses, but against injustice. The Commission will act where abuse is found. The goal is not repression, but establishing a culture of fair market play," CPC president Malinka Siljanovska Nikolikj aid in a written statement.

She calls for responsibility, self-regulation and constructive cooperation, pointing out that the strongest economy is the one in which everyone plays by the same rules.

"The Commission is not an enemy of business, but a guardian of the rules. Relations between retailers and suppliers must be based on equality, predictability and agreement, not on pressure, blackmail and informal conditions. Only in this way can a stable market be created in which everyone has an equal chance to succeed," Siljanovska Nikolikj added. 

The CPC encourages all economic entities who feel exposed to unfair conditions or pressure, to file a complaint. They will be treated with seriousness, professionalism and full protection of their identity, it states.

"The law is on their side, and the Commission is here to ensure its implementation. In the coming period, the CPC will continue with: proactive monitoring of retail chains and more inspections on the ground, open dialogue with suppliers and chambers to identify unfair practices, legal protection and proceedings against companies that systematically violate the law, as well as education of economic entities through publicly available guidelines, analyses and recommendations. The Commission chooses transparency, legality and trust. We expect the same from all participants in trade," the CPC said in a press release. 

Photo: MIA archive