The Commission for the Protection of Competition (the “Commission”) has announced that it conducted unannounced on-site inspections on May 15, 2025, as part of an ex officio investigation into potential anticompetitive practices in the retail market for fresh lamb and goat meat.
Inspections were carried out at the premises of a company active in the retail sale of fresh lamb and goat meat as well as at the Cyprus Butchers’ Association. The Commission is investigating potential infringements of Article 3(1) of the Protection of Competition Law [Law 13(I)/2022], as amended, and Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
The inspections aim to assess whether a cartel or other anticompetitive arrangements may exist between retailers of fresh lamb and goat meat, and/or between these entities and the Cyprus Butchers’ Association, or whether such practices may have been engaged in by the Association itself. The focus of the investigation is on potential conduct that may have the object or effect of obstructing, restricting, or distorting competition within the Republic of Cyprus.
The Commission emphasizes that the conduct of inspections is a preliminary investigative step and does not imply that any of the parties involved have breached competition law. The purpose of these inspections is to gather the necessary information to determine whether the provisions of national or EU competition law have been violated.
This action has been undertaken in accordance with Article 38 of the Law and pursuant to the Commission’s powers under Section 26(2)(k), which allows the issuance of such announcements during ongoing investigations.
This investigation is just another example of the multiple probes and market studies that competition authorities across Europe and beyond are conducting on the food sector.
