Government Adopts Draft Law on Trading Practices

Yesterday, the Government of Serbia adopted the Draft Law on trading practices for certain types of products, the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade announced.

As they added, the Law on trading practices is being introduced for the first time in Serbia and represents a significant step forward in regulating the internal market.

The significance of this law is reflected in preventing unfair trading practices and establishing fair, transparent, and more equitable relations among all market participants – traders, producers/processors, and primary agricultural producers - the statement said.

The law, it is stated, has largely been drafted following solutions already applied in the European Union, but with a significant expansion of the scope of products and solutions that are not present in other European legislations.

The majority of laws in the EU have covered unfair trading practices only for agricultural and food products, while our Law covers a much broader range of products falling under this regulation, thereby helping a larger number of suppliers improve their position in relation to traders - the statement said.

In addition to agricultural and food products, the law also covers products of special importance for market supply, including household chemicals, personal hygiene products, cosmetics, and others, as well as products of special importance for agricultural production – plant nutrition and protection products and soil improvers.

The law introduces, according to the ministry, clear rules and precise definitions of prohibited trading practices considered unfair and therefore placed on the Black list, as well as those that are conditionally allowed and placed on the Grey list.

The implementation of the Law on trading practices will contribute to improving the functioning of the internal market, as well as creating conditions for more stable and transparent price formation. This law is part of a broader set of systemic solutions aimed at creating a healthy and sustainable business environment in the internal market, based on modern European regulation and good practice - the statement concludes.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo unutrašnje i spoljne trgovine Republike Srbije

Government of Serbia

Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade

Draft Law on Trading Practices for Certain Types of Products

Law on Trading Practices