On 22 September 2025, the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for the Protection of Competition (the Agency) announced the initiation of proceedings against two agricultural cooperatives—Kmetijska zadruga Medvode (KZ Medvode) and Kmečka zadruga Sevnica (KZ SEVNICA)—for potential violations of Articles 61.f and 61.g of the Agricultural Act (ZKme-1).
The Agency’s preliminary findings suggest that both cooperatives may have exploited suppliers of agricultural and food products by leveraging their significant market power as buyers, contrary to good business practices. In the case of KZ Medvode, contracts with two suppliers in 2023 and 2024, exceeding EUR 15,000, allegedly failed to meet statutory requirements. One contract for the supply of live animals lacked mandatory contractual components, while another supplier was engaged without a written contract prior to delivery. These actions have prompted proceedings to determine a possible violation of point 23 of the fourth paragraph of Article 61.f in relation to Article 61.g of the ZKme-1.
Similarly, KZ SEVNICA is under investigation for comparable conduct. Contracts with two suppliers in 2023 and 2024 reportedly included incomplete agreements for the supply of perishable agricultural products (fresh meat) and transactions without written contracts for live animals. Additionally, KZ SEVNICA is alleged to have exceeded the statutory payment period for fresh meat deliveries, paying later than the 30-day limit stipulated in Article 61.b. Proceedings have therefore been initiated to assess potential breaches of point 11 of the fourth paragraph of Article 61.f in relation to Article 61.b, and point 23 of the fourth paragraph of Article 61.f in relation to Article 61.g.
The Agency has invited all interested parties to submit information relevant to the investigations. Contributors are instructed to clearly identify any confidential data, including business secrets or personal data, and submit them separately in a sealed envelope marked “CONFIDENTIAL DATA.” Publicly available information is not considered confidential. The Agency will also protect the identity of sources who request confidentiality when providing information that could influence the outcome of the proceedings.
The initiation of proceedings does not presuppose any final determination of violations by the Agency.
