The Competition Council conducted surprise inspections at six major retail chains to verify compliance with the law regarding unfair commercial practices in relation to dairy suppliers.

The Competition Council of Romania has conducted unannounced inspections at the headquarters of six major retail chains, including Metro, Auchan, and Carrefour, to assess compliance with Law no. 81/2022, which regulates unfair commercial practices in the agricultural and food supply chain. These actions were initiated following a study on the milk and dairy products market, aimed at identifying possible irregularities, such as non-compliance with payment terms, imposing shorter termination periods than legally allowed, and applying excessive discounts.

The inspections are authorized by the Bucharest Court of Appeal and do not imply a preliminary ruling on the guilt of the retailers. If violations are found, companies risk fines of up to 600,000 lei or 1% of their turnover.