The Commission for Protection of Competition conducted a competition conditions inquiry into the raspberry purchase and export market on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.
The inquiry is conducted with the objective of investigating the existence of a reasonable assumption on the presence of competition infringement on the raspberry purchase market effected on the part of buyers (owners of cold storage facilities), pursuant to which the Commission would be able, in accordance with its competences, to institute an investigative proceeding ex officio.

The subject-matter of this inquiry was the collection and elaboration of data on production, purchase, import and export of raspberries and the establishment of circumstances under which the 2017 raspberry harvest purchase is conducted. For the purpose of conducting the inquiry, raspberry import/export data for 2010-2017 are collected from the competent authorities. In line with submitted data, the largest raspberry exporters are identified and contacted by the Commission with a special request for the submission of data and information.

Pursuant to all collected and analyzed data and information, the Commission was unable to derive a conclusion on the existence of disturbances on the 2017 raspberry harvest purchase market, which could be the result of preventing, restricting or distorting competition on the part of undertakings operating on the related market.

The inquiry also indicated on numerous issues of a systematic nature that both raspberry producers and buyers encounter. Such issues, as per understanding of the Commission, require the involvement of all relevant institutions towards finding a long-term and sustainable solution, so that the continued existence of this extremely important fruit-growing branch yielding significant export revenues would not be jeopardized.

The Commission wishes to express its gratitude to all undertakings for their duly submission of requested data during the competition inquiry process, and at the same time calls upon undertakings and other expert public to submit their comments to the inquiry, to email address: office.kzk@kzk.gov.rs with reference: Comments to the raspberry market inquiry.