So far, 26 cases of unfair trade practices have been determined in contracts between manufacturers, suppliers and traders due to large percentages of rebates up to 40 percent, which affect the final price of the product, and the citizens pay for it, said the Deputy Minister of Economy and Labor. Marjan Risteski, who met with businessmen on the eve of the entry into force of the Law on Unfair Trade Practices on the 28th of this month.

- In the previous contracts between manufacturers, suppliers and traders, there are extremely high percentages of bargaining and rebates - even up to 35 and 40 percent, and all of this puts a heavy burden on the product and the end consumer, the citizens. In this way, some traders, producers, are somehow blackmailed. And because of that, the producers had to increase the prices in order to be profitable - says Risteski.

According to the provisions of the Law on Unfair Trade Practices, in certain periods of the year there may be a greater discount than 10 percent, due to shares, but that percentage will not be exceeded on an annual basis.

- I think this law will be of great importance and is the first law in South-Eastern Europe, which will regulate these relations, and we think that the final effect of the realization and implementation will be reflected in the price of the products, and the biggest benefit, of course, will end consumers have. The list of agricultural and food products is composed of about 2 products. This law was adopted in consultation with employers, with the chambers of commerce, with the Association for Agricultural and Food Products and, of course, in consultation with other relevant ministries - explains the Deputy Minister of Economy and Labor, Marjan Risteski, for MIA.

At the recent meeting with businessmen from the Prilep regional chamber, it was said that the Law is basically acceptable to them and they expect how it will be implemented and how the supervision will be carried out.

- We expect the Commission for the Protection of Competition, as a supervisory authority, to prepare opinions and guidelines before the start of the implementation of the Law, so that both supplier companies and buyers can be clear about what will happen with this law, taking into account that the fines for non-implementation are quite high - said Nikola Marinoski, president of the Regional Chamber of Commerce from Prilep.

The Law on Unfair Trade Practices was passed, suppliers and buyers have six months to comply