COMPETITION POLICY IN THE POLISH AGRI-FOOD MARKETS

Abstract

The paper presents the theoretical basis and practice of competition policy implemented in the field of organization and functioning of the Polish agri-food markets. The national governments create competition policy based on the assumptions of economic theory for the effective economy and consumer welfare. As it can be observed in many agrifood markets in Poland, the role of competition policy is limited. Firstly, it is so because of the low level of market concentration, which limits the potential for intervention. In the years 2004–2010 the President of UOKiK (Polish Competition Authority) conducted 11 proceedings regarding infringement of competition law in this sector. Besides only a few of the 137 merger control decisions resulted in merger prohibition or a conditional consent. Secondly, under the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy, markets of farm products are not regulated by competition law in the same way as other sectors of the economy. A likely increase the importance of competition policy in this sector can result from its progressive consolidation and a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.