• The agricultural and food market is closely monitored by the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK).
• The latest activities concern inspections at apple purchasing centres.
• The Trade Inspection personnel is investigating whether the prices of these fruits are set according to the law.

UOKiK has received information concerning low apple prices. The President of the Office, Tomasz Chróstny, ordered the inspections to be carried out by employees of the Trade Inspection.

- We are analysing the situation in the fruit markets in detail. This year, due to the high supply of fresh apples and the level of stocks after last year's harvest, prices of apples at purchasing centres are very low. I have instructed the inspectors of the Trade Inspection to carry out inspections at purchasing centres. We want to investigate whether apple purchasers and processors are taking advantage of fruit growers', in particular by price-fixing or unfairly exploiting their contractual advantages, says UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny.

The inspections will be carried out first of all by the Provincial Inspectorates of Trade Inspection in Warsaw, Lublin, Kielce and Rzeszów. The main objective of inspection activities is to examine the level of prices and the method of their determination. In the coming weeks, the inspectors will check several dozens of purchase centres in provinces leading the production of apples in the country.

In addition to the ongoing inspection, the President of UOKiK also draws attention to market factors that may influence low apple prices. The main reason is the high supply of fruit. It results from this year's high harvest and record stocks of apples harvested last year. According to the World Apple and Pear Association, in July 2021, apple stocks in Poland were 133,000 tonnes, which is 11 times higher than in July 2020. They were also higher than in July 2019, a year after the record 2018 harvest.

- We are aware of the market factors influencing fruit prices, however, we would like to verify whether purchasing centres and processors do not take unlawful advantage of the market situation to further lower apple purchase prices, says UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny.

Entrepreneur, farmer, if you operate in the agricultural and food industry and your large contractor imposes unfavourable conditions of cooperation - notify UOKiK. We have launched a special form that will make it easier for you to report irregularities. Visit: https://ankieta.uokik.gov.pl/formularz-zgloszenie-przewaga/

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL