Is the Commission using EU antitrust rules to tackle high food prices?
The global nature of the recent price increases suggests that they are not linked to breaches of the EU’s competition rules. There has been no particular increase in market concentration in the retail sector, and it seems quite unlikely that cartels have suddenly sprung up in so many countries at so many levels of the supply chain: the Commission has not seen any evidence showing violations of EC Treaty rules on restrictive business practices and/or abuse of dominant market position (Articles 81 and 82). Competitive markets are the best guarantee consumers have that food prices will be kept as low as possible whilst ensuring the greatest possible choice. OECD figures show that food price increases have been lower than inflation for the last 20 years. Over the same period, changes in the retail market have not led to a loss in diversity of products, cultural heritage or retail outlets. It is of course important to consider all relevant factors affecting these markets, and the Commission
