Specifically, Vestre proposes that the Norwegian Competition Authority should be allowed to intervene earlier if they discover “anti-competitive behavior” in the grocery market.
– Let’s say that a grocery chain enters into an exclusive agreement with a soft drink supplier. If the Norwegian Competition Authority discovers that exclusivity creates competition problems in the market, they can order the players to open up for other soft drink suppliers to also sell goods in the relevant store chain, without having demonstrated abuse of a dominant position or that this agreement in isolation damages competition between the chains. says Vestre in a press release.
Today, the Norwegian Competition Authority must prove an offense in order to be able to order the grocery operators to change their behavior or, for example, change agreements. With the proposed adjustments, this will no longer be necessary, and the audit can be aimed directly at specific conditions in “the market’s structure or problematic behavior”, the Ministry of Trade and Industry writes.
– We want the Norwegian Competition Authority to be able to intervene earlier when the grocery players become too large. In this way, we will contribute to better competition, which provides better selection in the stores and consumers get more for their money, says the Minister of Trade and Industry.
The changes were proposed by the Norwegian Competition Authority after Vestre in March asked them to consider new measures to combat competition problems in the grocery market. The changes they want are not only aimed at the grocery market, but can also be applied to other industries.
– The measure is about the Norwegian Competition Authority first identifying obstacles to competition in an industry, and then designing tailor-made remedial measures. We believe this can help solve specific challenges, including in the grocery market, says competition director Tina Søreide.
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