During the international agricultural fair Agra in Gornja Radgona, Branko Ravnik, the ombudsman for food supply chain relations, organized a significant conference titled 'On the Path to a Fair Food Supply Chain'. The event featured Andrej Matvoz, the director of the Slovenian Competition Authority (AVK), who expressed understanding for the struggles faced by farmers and dairy producers due to declining milk prices.

Matvoz noted that while the AVK has not detected unfair trading practices in the market, there is a 'fear factor' preventing individuals from reporting issues. He encouraged all market participants to report any irregularities, assuring that all reports, including anonymous ones, would be treated confidentially.

He also discussed the EU Directive 2019/633 on unfair trading practices, stating that unclear areas in Slovenia are not functioning effectively. The AVK primarily focuses on a few key areas, such as timely payment for goods and ensuring that contracts between suppliers and buyers are properly documented.

Matvoz called for legislative adjustments to ensure clarity, as AVK decisions are often challenged in court. He emphasized the need for suppliers to be proactive, as the AVK's role is to prevent illegal and unfair practices in specific areas.

The conference also included participation from various officials, including Elisabeth Werner from the European Commission and Slovenian Agriculture Minister Janez Cigler Kralj, who discussed the challenges facing the dairy supply chain in Slovenia.