Following the ex officio initiation of an investigation into the sale of plant protection products and fertilizers, the Competition Council found that, during the period 2015–2020, the undertakings “Agrostoc” CÎ, “Diazchim” LLC, “Bioprotect” LLC, “Fertilitatea-Chișinău” JSC, “Agrimatco-Service” LLC, “CVA-Virocagro” CP, “Elitagrotehnologie” LLC, “Licorent-Agro” LLC, and “Protecția Plantelor” LLC participated in horizontal anticompetitive agreements. These agreements directly or indirectly fixed sale prices and other trading conditions for the distribution of plant protection products and fertilizers bearing the brands Bayer, Belchim, Adama, BASF, Corteva/DuPont, FMC, NuFarm, and Syngenta to third parties on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
In 2021, the undertakings concerned were fined a total amount of approximately 130 million MLD.
The Competition Council found that the prices of plant protection products and fertilizers sold in the Republic of Moldova are approximately 40% higher than in Ukraine. This situation has severely affected Moldovan agricultural producers over the past five years, reducing their competitiveness and, ultimately, consumer welfare.
Details:
Decision of the Plenum of the Competition Council No. DA-22/20-64 as of 18.11.2021
Decision of the Plenum of the Competition Council No. DA-22/20-09 as of 26.03.2021
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