Government decided Tuesday to determine the highest trade margins of sales prices of basic food products in wholesale and retail that will be valid from March 1 to May 31, MIA reports.
According to the decision, the highest trade margin shall amount up to five percent of the sales price in wholesale and up to ten percent of the sales price in retail, for bread, sugar, salt, flour, sunflower oil, milk, meat and delicatessen, cheese, rice, eggs, pasta, wheat, fruit and vegetables.
“Considering the information and the field analyses, which show that costs of producers of basic food products are rising, the decision aims to limit traders in making profit at the expense of the citizens and producers.
The decision controls the rise of prices of basic food products, since the decision to freeze prices of basic food products ends on March 1,” Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi told a press conference. Fines will e issued to traders if they fail to abide by the decision.
“Fines range from EUR 800 to EUR 1,000 for a micro-trader, EUR 16,00-2,000 for a small trader, EUR 3,000-6,000 for a mid-size trader, and EUR 7,000-10,000 for a big trader,” noted Bekteshi.
He added that the ministry is about to launch a discussion on drafting a law on unfair trade practices in the food supply chain, which is set to be completed by the end of March and then enter parliamentary procedure.
