Serbia: Competition authority opens investigation into potential RPM practice in consumer electronics market

The Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has opened an investigation and conducted dawn raids at the premises of importers and wholesalers of consumer electronics for possible anti-competitive agreements concerning resale price maintenance (RPM).

The CPC is investigating the following companies:

• Roaming Electronics;
• Tehnomanija;
• Comtrade Distribution; and
• SF1 Coffee.

According to Eurostat data for 2019, the prices for consumer electronics in Serbia were 13% higher than the EU average. For some categories, the prices were 33% to 39% higher than in Hungary, taking into account that the value added tax in Serbia is lower. The CPC carried out an analysis and found that retail outlets and online shops sold consumer electronics at identical or nearly identical prices. Based on a preliminary assessment, the CPC believes that importers and wholesalers imposed price restrictions on retailers.

First published on ILO, 14.01.2021

authors: Srdjana Petronijević and Zoran Šoljaga