The Greek competition authority carried out surprise on-site inspections at businesses involved in the supply, processing, packaging and marketing of table olives, as well as at a related business association. The inspections form part of an ex officio investigation into possible agreements or concerted practices between competitors and/or a decision by an association of businesses, particularly concerning the setting of purchase prices and other trading conditions. The authority is examining potential infringements of Greek Competition Law and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The authority stressed that inspections are an investigative measure to collect evidence and do not imply that the inspected businesses or association engaged in anticompetitive conduct, nor do they prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation is part of the authority’s enforcement work in the agri-food sector, which it identifies as a priority amid inflation, rising living costs, supply-chain disruptions, geopolitical instability and climate change. Its work in the sector includes enforcing competition rules, reviewing mergers, promoting competition policy, and conducting market-mapping exercises and sector inquiries. The table olive investigation falls within its enforcement activities.

The authority outlined the applicable legal framework: Greek Competition Law and Articles 101 and 102 TFEU prohibit anticompetitive agreements and abuse of dominance, while Greek law also prohibits certain unilateral conduct inviting competitors to join a prohibited agreement or announcing future pricing intentions to them. The authority said it will prioritize intervention where necessary and may act on complaints, leniency applications, anonymous reports through its whistleblowing system, or other information.

The announcement also highlighted the authority’s leniency programme. Businesses, associations and individuals involved in cartel conduct—such as price or output fixing, customer or market allocation, or bid-rigging—may face substantial fines, criminal penalties for responsible individuals, and exclusion of businesses from public tenders and concession contracts for three years. Leniency may provide full or partial immunity from, or reductions in, administrative fines; relief or reduced penalties for individuals; exemption from other administrative sanctions; and protection from exclusion from public procurement.