The Regional Administrative Court has ruled in favor of the Lithuanian Pharmacy Association (LPA) and eight pharmaceutical companies, overturning the Competition Council's previous decision from December 2022. The court found that the actions of the LPA and the companies during the legislative process did not constitute a violation of competition law.

The Competition Council had previously determined that the LPA and the pharmaceutical companies engaged in an anti-competitive agreement by coordinating margins for reimbursable medicines. This coordination was deemed to have significantly influenced the Ministry of Health's decisions regarding these margins, which were approved based on the information provided by the LPA and the companies.

In its 2022 ruling, the Competition Council imposed fines exceeding EUR 72 million for violations of both Lithuanian competition law and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Following the recent court decision, the Competition Council is now reviewing the court's arguments and considering whether to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania.