Government urgently amends Regulation on Margins “due to pressure from retail chains on suppliers”

The Government of Serbia will urgently amend the newly adopted Regulation on Margins due to pressure from retailers on suppliers, said Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Jagoda Lazarevic during a speech from the Government of Serbia. She said that the ministry had been shocked to find that, the day before, on the day the regulation had been adopted, without yet coming into effect, some retail chains had started putting serious pressure on their suppliers, insisting on signing an annex to the contract.

– As I was informed, they directly asked some companies that are suppliers to make certain corrections and to do all this before the regulation coming into effect in order to try to circumvent some of our provisions. I found it especially incredible that they did this after two meetings we had with them and where we came to their aid on some items, regarding logistics costs. I am aware of how difficult it is for our smaller companies in that chain. My message is to be persistent, the regulation is very clear, and we will change the regulation today in accordance with everything that the traders have tried to do – said the minister.

She explained that the regulation could be changed on a weekly basis and told the traders that, if they behave like this, it will be on the agenda at every meeting.

– The goal is to reduce prices by limiting margins, so that our citizens buy cheaper products, but we also take care of the domestic industry and protect our producers, which we are showing in action, and some will find it difficult due to pressure from traders – said the minister.

Ministarstvo unutrašnje i spoljne trgovine Republike Srbije

Ministry of Trade

Jagoda Lazarević

Regulation on Margins

trade margins

limiting trade margins

retail chains