Dairy Cooperatives Forum: Hard times afoot for the dairy industry

The challenges facing the dairy sector, but also the opportunities that the industry may exploit to its advantage – these were the main topics debated during the International Dairy Cooperatives Forum held on 8-9 September in Białystok.

(…) Bernadeta Kasztelan-Świetlik of the law firm Gessel, Koziorowski, Kancelaria Radców Prawnych i Adwokatów sp.p. discussed application of the Polish law on unfair commercial practices subsequent to its amendment, noting that 2020 saw UOKiK adopting a harder line. “Previously, the authority would generally opt for a ‘soft’ caution, putting the given enterprise on notice and calling upon it to desist in its unfair practices. As of 2020, however, the Polish authority has adopted a more severe approach, with less ‘soft’ summons but more penalties. This is due to the fact that the law has been in force for some time now, and companies have had the chance to interpret it and to adapt their operations”, the lawyer explains while adding that, in her opinion, a code of best practice would be preferable in that it would make for a less confrontational atmosphere. “Alas, the trend is now quite the opposite – in favour of ever-stricter regulation”, Bernadeta Kasztelan-Świetlik explains. At the same time, she notes that, to date, commercial entities did not seem interested in proposing a code of best practice of their own volition.

The full text of this article is available in Polish. If you are interested in an English-language version or in discussing the issues raised herein with one of our lawyers, please contact: kontakt@gessel.pl