site.btaCompetition Watchdog Orders Filling Stations to Ensure No Contacts, Exchange of Information Occur between Competitors

Competition Watchdog Orders Filling Stations to Ensure No Contacts, Exchange of Information Occur
between Competitors

Sofia, March 29 (BTA) - The Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC) has ordered six filling stations to put in place internal procedures ensuring that no contacts take place or commercially sensitive information is exchanged among them and their staff, that no commercially sensitive information is discussed or exchanged via the Bulgarian Oil and Gas Association, and that employees who fail to observe the requirement for confidentiality of the commercial information are to be sanctioned with dismissal. The six filling stations: LUKoil Bulgaria, Eko Petroleum Bulgaria, Shell Bulgaria, OMV Bulgaria, NIS Petrol, and Petrol, and the trade association, have thirty days to introduce the procedures.

The CPC conducted an investigation against the filling stations for possible breach of the competition law. The CPC found the presence of market conditions enabling a high degree of transparency of the pricing policy of the players and good knowledge of competitors' behaviour.