Georgia: The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) has issued a warning to consumers about the possible harm caused by anti-competitive agreements between business competitors.
According to the GCCA, such agreements are illegal and violate the Competition Law of Georgia, which aims to protect fair and free competition in the market. Anti-competitive agreements can take various forms, such as price-fixing, market-sharing, bid-rigging, or output-restriction.
The GCCA said that these agreements harm consumers by reducing their choices, increasing prices, lowering quality, and limiting innovation. The agency urged consumers to be vigilant and report any suspicious behavior or evidence of anti-competitive agreements to the GCCA’s hotline or email address.
The GCCA also said that it is actively monitoring the market and conducting investigations to detect and prevent anti-competitive practices. The agency has the power to impose fines, sanctions, or injunctions on the parties involved in such agreements.
The GCCA also announced that it has prepared an informational video clip to raise awareness and educate consumers about the dangers of anti-competitive agreements. The video clip was supported by the EU Twinning in Competition and Consumer Protection in Georgia project, which is funded by the European Union and aims to strengthen the institutional capacity and effectiveness of the GCCA.
The video clip can be viewed on the GCCA’s website or social media platforms.
Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA)
The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) was established in 2014 through the Law of Georgia on Competition. It functions as an independent legal entity of public law.
It operates under the accountability of the Prime Minister, the Georgian parliament, and the wider society. The agency’s core mandate revolves around the enforcement of competition, anti-dumping, and consumer protection policies.
