Bulgaria: Study finds pressing lack of competition in consumer goods

A study released by the Made in Bulgaria Union found troubling statistics regarding a lack of competition in the nation’s fast-moving consumer goods market, say reports, as the Union pressed for competition reform to address the matter.

In its report, the Union found 10 retail chains control 36 percent of the consumer industry, a figure the group said they expect to grow. Now, Union executive director Plamen Grozdanov is calling for amendments to the Competition Protection Act, dismissing concerns that over-regulation would lead to food price hikes.

Instead, Grozdanov told reporters, reforms could allow retailers to pursue claims against anticompetitive rivals.

The watchdog is calling for the introduction of the concept of “substantial market power” in the nation’s competition policy to curb anticompetitive behavior and allow the Commission for Protection of Competition to crack down on dominance abuse.

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