Poland’s competition authority has fined Decora and Bel-Pol nearly PLN 34 million (approximately €7.9 million) for participating in a long-running price-fixing and market-sharing arrangement involving flooring products.
According to UOKiK, the illegal agreement lasted from March 2019 to April 2024 and covered vinyl flooring panels, underlays, skirting boards and flooring profiles manufactured by Decora. The authority said the cartel prevented consumers from purchasing the products below prices set by the participants, meaning customers renovating homes during the period likely paid inflated prices.
UOKiK found that Decora imposed minimum resale prices on wholesale and retail distributors, distributed mandatory price lists, and monitored compliance. Retailers that sold below agreed levels risked losing discounts, having deliveries suspended, or being stripped of in-store inventory and displays.
The authority also concluded that distributors, including major Decora partner Bel-Pol, actively participated in the arrangement by monitoring rival retailers and reporting discounting to Decora. Bel-Pol additionally policed downstream resellers of Decora products.
Separately, UOKiK found that Decora and Bel-Pol allocated wholesale customers between themselves, restricting certain buyers from choosing freely between suppliers.
The total fines imposed amount to PLN 33.9 million (approximately €7.9 million), including PLN 28.3 million (€6.6 million) on Decora and PLN 5.29 million (€1.2 million) on Bel-Pol. Two managers were also fined for direct involvement in the conduct.
Bel-Pol received a reduced penalty after cooperating with the investigation under Poland’s leniency programme, although it did not qualify for full immunity because it applied after dawn raids had already produced evidence.
The decision is not final and may be appealed in court.
