SOFIA, July 15, 2025 — Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) is continuing its in-depth sector analysis of the wholesale and retail medicinal products market by engaging with key industry stakeholders.
As part of this process, the CPC held a meeting today with representatives from the Bulgarian Association of Wholesale and Retailers of Medicines, and is scheduled to meet with the Bulgarian Association for the Development of Parallel Trade in Medicines. These discussions are intended to gather insight into how the pharmaceutical supply chain functions and identify areas where competition may be hindered.
The sector-wide analysis aims to assess structural and behavioral factors affecting competition, including alleged issues such as medicine shortages, discriminatory practices by wholesalers toward pharmacies, and the illegal export of medications subject to trade restrictions.
The CPC is evaluating whether these challenges stem from legitimate market conditions or from anti-competitive practices that distort the market and harm consumer rights.
Should the Commission find sufficient evidence of competition law violations—such as abuse of dominance, unfair commercial conduct, or unlawful collusion—it has the authority to launch formal proceedings and impose sanctions. Under Bulgarian competition law, companies found guilty of such infringements can face fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover, which, for larger pharmaceutical firms, could amount to millions of euros (or several million USD) depending on the severity and impact of the conduct.
The Commission stated it will not hesitate to act ex officio (on its own initiative) if violations are confirmed during the analysis.
The ongoing review underscores the CPC’s commitment to ensuring a competitive, transparent, and fair pharmaceutical market in Bulgaria—especially in a sector so critical to public health.
Source: https://www.cpc.bg/news-425
