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Portugal: Para-military takeover of retail competition creates regulatory mess

By  |  February 27, 2014

The para-military group ASAE Safety Authority for Health and Economic Activities has taken over operations of Portugal’s Competition Authority regarding the retail industry, say reports, and is now facing dozens of already opened cases.

Reports say about 50 competition cases had already been opened in the area of supermarket retail when ASAE took over on Tuesday. But when the Authority lost its jurisdiction over the field, reports say at least 50 cases regarding abusing trading practices were already opened.

Most recently, investigations were probing allegations of product sales at below-market costs.

Supermarket chain Pingo Doce was fined thousands after a last-minute sale caused shopping mayhem, according to reports.

Full Content: The Portugal News

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