The Greek Competition Authority has announced a priority examination and assignment to a competent rapporteur regarding potential vertical agreements in the pet food supply market. This decision is in accordance with Article 15 of Law 3959/2011, which pertains to the protection of free competition.

The investigation targets the import, production, wholesale, and retail sectors of pet food for animals such as dogs and cats. The authority aims to identify any anti-competitive practices that may violate the provisions of Article 1 of Law 3949/2011 and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

In November 2024, the General Directorate of Competition conducted on-site inspections at companies operating in these markets, including importers and distributors, as part of this self-initiated investigation. This follows a previous press release regarding surprise inspections in the pet food sector.

The legal framework governing this investigation includes Law 3959/2011 and Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU, which prohibit agreements and practices that restrict competition. Specifically, Article 1 of Law 3959/2011 and Article 101 of the TFEU ban collusion among businesses that may limit competition, while Article 1A of Law 3959/2011 prohibits unilateral practices that invite illegal collusion.

The assignment to a rapporteur marks the beginning of the deadlines outlined in paragraphs 4 and 5 of Article 15 of Law 3959/2011 for decision-making. However, it does not pre-determine the content of the rapporteur's recommendations or the final decision of the Competition Authority. The legal deadlines are indicative, and the duration of each case's examination will depend on its complexity, the volume of the administrative file, and the number of companies involved and their level of cooperation.