Sergiu Tofilat and Iulian Rusu, experts at the Institute of European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), say that the way the price of bread was increased violated several legal provisions on competition. According to them, the Council of Competition must start an investigation into this and use all the available tools to establish how the decision was taken and apply the required penalties, IPN reports.

The specialists say that the Prosecutor General's Office must take note as well and start criminal proceedings to find out whether the decision taken by the two bodies, the Moldovan Association of Bakers and the National Association of Bakery and Milling Industries, including the representatives of participant organizations, violates the provisions of the Penal Code regarding the limitation of free competition.

Moreover, the experts say that the Ministry of Economy has the obligation to analyze the way new prices are set for bakery products, also by requiring an opinion from the Council of Competition. The new prices, which cannot have a contribution margin above 10%, come into effect only after the above-mentioned procedural requirements are met.

On August 15, the prices of bread and bakery products increased on average by 15%. The Moldovan Association of Bakers and the National Association of Bakery and Milling Industries explained this measure as an adjustment to the increased prices of electricity and gas, as well as the devaluation of the national currency and the more expensive raw materials.