Trade Association Head Calls Kaufland Bulgaria Fine Disproportionate

Leave a Comment / Agriculture, All articles, Economy, Industry / By България Новините

The fine imposed on Kaufland Bulgaria was disproportionate by European standards, Association for Modern Trade Executive Director Nikolay Valkanov told journalists on Tuesday.
Valkanov spoke at Sofia Tech Park during a public discussion on agricultural cooperation guidelines organized by the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC), which imposed the fine.
Valkanov said 754 similar decisions had been issued in Europe over the past two years and that the fines in those cases totalled roughly half the amount imposed on Kaufland Bulgaria. The court would decide whether the fine was proportionate, he added.
He said the bigger problem was the legislation, which he described as “Frankenstein-style”. Businesses had been promised competition rules modelled on Germany’s, he said, but the rules ultimately adopted resembled Hungary’s.
Valkanov warned that the amendments would curb commercial initiative and competition among retailers, limiting their freedom to choose what to stock and carry out their usual trading activities. Consumers would ultimately be worse off, he said.
Commenting on Kaufland Bulgaria’s plans to review its investments, Valkanov said Bulgaria risked losing both future and existing foreign investment and the jobs it supports.
He said CPC had proceedings under way against other companies and that he expected more fines of this kind.
The association had continued to seek dialogue with the government, Valkanov said. He said talks should focus on food security and supply, relations between producers and retailers, and the sector’s development.
Thousands of Bulgarian producers work successfully with retail chains, he said, cautioning against portraying their relationship as a sector-wide conflict.
Valkanov said the Competition Protection Act had been amended several times in the preceding 12 months. The association said the act now provided for turnover-based fines for violations that only a minority of European countries penalize in this way.
“This creates a tool for putting brutal pressure on businesses. Today it is a retailer. Tomorrow it will be someone else,” Valkanov said.

Trade Association Head Calls Kaufland Bulgaria Fine Disproportionate THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-11-10 03:04:23

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