The coal market has been under close scrutiny of the President of UOKiK.
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So far, as part of the ongoing market investigation, 201 operators running a total of 255 coal deposits have been inspected. Meanwhile, full market investigation and inspections across the country began today.
"The situation on the coal market raises doubts about the autonomy of price-setting by individual entrepreneurs, which is why I have commissioned the Trade Inspection Authority to inspect coal depots across Poland, a total of several thousand points of sale.
"Inspectors are to visit every coal depot in our country and source product prices from every day until at least the end of the year. Based on this data, as well as information on the structure of the market, UOKiK will take further decisions, including possible inspections or searches at the premises of those entrepreneurs who would attempt to fix collusive coal prices jointly with other market players.
"The inspection will also verify the compliance of product price labelling, the legality of the entrepreneur's business activities or the country of origin of coal, President of UOKiK, Tomasz Chróstny, stresses.
As part of the inspections carried out, the legality of the retailers’ business will be examined, including inter alia their compliance with the requirement to be registered on the portal https://cieplo.gov.pl/ and keep their coal sale prices updated.
Based on the information available on this website, the consumer can check where they can buy coal, at what price, and thus make the best purchasing decision for themselves.
Non-compliance with the requirements will result in a notice to the National Revenue Administration, which can impose a fine of PLN 1,500 on the operator of the coal depot. What is more, the NRA may impose a fine of up to PLN 15,000 in the event of repeated non-compliance.
The TIA inspectors will also verify the correctness of the display of prices by retailers and the country of origin certificate.
This is to eliminate irregularities at the stage of purchase of coal by consumers.
Furthermore, the inspection will involve collecting information on the market structure, such as the size of coal retailers, staffing, the number of depots they own, and price levels.
The data collected as part of the inspection will be used, inter alia, to monitor whether price collusion is taking place among retailers.
In a free market economy, entrepreneurs are free to set prices. However, this must be their own business decision; they cannot do it in consultation with other entities, such as their competitors.
Price collusion or market sharing is subject to a penalty of up to 10 per cent of the entrepreneur's turnover for each practice and up to PLN 2 million for individuals managing the company who are directly responsible for the prohibited arrangements. ■