Wrangling about the profit

At the end of January the European Commission (EC) decided to go to court about the Hungarian rules for the retail sales of agricultural and food products – the EC’s opinion is that the Hungarian regulations deprive consumers and businesses of their right to enjoy the benefits of the single market without limitations.

The EC’s view is that retailers should apply the same profit margin for agricultural and food products, irrespective of whether they are Hungarian-made or imported. Brussels opines it is also problematic that Hungary obstructs fair competition because there is no free price-setting for agri-products.

The EC launched an infringement procedure against Hungary in February 2017. It is rather interesting that Brussels is protecting fair competition in this case, but the EC isn’t so strict when it comes to the double standards in food quality – the same products being of higher quality in Western Europe than in the East. Luckily, the Romanian presidency of the EU put the problem back on the negotiating table!. //