Food City Tashkent Drops Increased Ice Fee After Probe

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Food City Tashkent company, which operates the wholesale fruit and vegetable market, has cancelled an increased fee for bringing ice onto the market premises following the intervention of the Committee for Competition Development and Consumer Protection.

According to the agency's press service, the investigation was prompted by an appeal from an entrepreneur who sells ice on the market. The business owner alleged that the administration of Food City Tashkent was creating artificial barriers to his business activities.

Specifically, the fee for bringing in packaged and unpackaged ice was increased several-fold, reaching 737,000 soums per day. The entrepreneur stated that these actions effectively created conditions to force him out of the market.

Upon receiving the appeal, the Competition Development Committee sent an inquiry to the market administration and reviewed the situation.

Following the review, an agreement was reached between the administration of Food City Tashkent and the entrepreneur, resulting in the cancellation of the unreasonably increased fee.

The committee pointed out that, under the law, the ability of a business entity to unilaterally determine transaction terms, sales territories, or price levels can be regarded as an exercise of superior bargaining power, even if the company does not hold a dominant position in the market.

The agency also emphasized that the abuse of superior bargaining power can lead to the application of financial sanctions under the Law on Competition.