Sofia, January 21, 2026 — Bulgaria’s Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) said its ongoing sector review of the food market shows how sector analysis can serve as a key tool for prevention and improving market conditions when backed by detailed evidence, CPC Chair Assoc. Prof. Rosen Karadimov told lawmakers.
Karadimov presented the interim findings of the CPC’s food market sector review to a parliamentary subcommittee focused on consumer protection and limiting monopolies. The CPC’s review covers the full supply chain — from production and distribution to retail — with a focus on essential products such as eggs, milk and dairy products, meat, flour, bread and cooking oil.
The authority said it launched the food sector review less than a month after beginning its mandate, citing the sector’s social importance and signs of structural changes with direct implications for market dynamics and consumer welfare. Karadimov said the CPC’s goal is not to impose coercive measures but to encourage dialogue, self-regulation, and a balance of interests across the sector.
The CPC said it has sought extensive information from producers and traders of fast-moving consumer goods, including large retail chains, to examine pricing practices, supply conditions, and factors affecting price changes. It also incorporated data from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) related to the dairy products sector.
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The authority said it has pursued broader coordination through cooperation agreements with the consumer protection authority, the National Revenue Agency, and other institutions, alongside meetings with industry groups and retailers. Karadimov said the CPC can share information with relevant bodies where there are sufficient indications of unjustified price increases, while noting the CPC does not have powers to regulate or control prices.
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The CPC said it has assessed both modern retail formats — large chains — and traditional trade, including small shops, as part of its market-wide review. Karadimov said the CPC’s approach has included a public discussion attended by government officials, industry representatives, consumer groups, regulators, unions and consumers.
Karadimov also said recent amendments to the Competition Protection Act have enabled the CPC to adopt interim findings in ongoing sector reviews and propose measures to competent state authorities aimed at improving market conditions.
Industry representatives attending the session voiced support for the CPC’s dialogue-based approach, while members of the parliamentary subcommittee also expressed unanimous approval of the interim results.
Source: https://www.cpc.bg/news-471
