For many years the Trade association and the Union GPA for a free and fair range of goods in the European internal market. A Prohibition of territorial delivery restrictions is therefore one of the core demands in PLAN H of Austrian trade.
At the beginning of May 2025 it was – almost – so far: in one Leave-out version of the new EU internal market strategy Stand black on white, the commission will develop a legislative proposal by the end of 2026 to ban territorial delivery restrictions on the global food industry in Europe.
EU Commission watered down in-house market strategy-at the expense of 450 million consumers: inside
In the published on May 21st final version of the internal market strategy However, it was completely surprising that the EU Commission would develop “instruments to combat unjustified territorial delivery restrictions” by the end of 2026 in order to record those practices “that would go beyond the competition law.”
Why did it come to this at the last moment Softening – in one for the European trade industry and for the 450 million European consumers: inside so central point? It can be assumed that representatives of the multinational brand industry had their fingers in the game.
Territorial supply constraints of multinational industrial groups hold prices artificially high
Territorial delivery restrictions (so -called Territorial Supply Constraintskurz TSCS) are restrictions imposed by certain large manufacturers, which make it very difficult or impossible to buy products in a member state and to sell them in another.
So far, the TSCs have allowed international producers to offer products in different markets at different prices. “These country -specific sales strategies – especially in the food sector – meet Austrian trade with full force. Our companies are not allowed to shop where it would be cheapest. The colliery ultimately pay the consumers: inside that have to pay significantly more for everyday goods such as food, cosmetics or cleaning agents than, for example, in Germany”, explained Barbara TeiberChair of the GPA union.
Austrian dealers must pay up to 60% higher prices in procurement
“The fact is that over 90 percent of the procurement in food retail trade still takes place in the EU internal market nationally. This is mainly due to the practices of the multinational food industry to artificially segment the EU internal market along national borders and thus the International purchase in fact impossible close”confirmed Rainer WillManaging Director of the free, non -partisan trade association.
For example, if an Austrian dealer wants to buy the hairspray of a multinational producer, this is only possible through the National Sales Society of the respective multis. The hairspray costs 3.20 euros for the Austrian dealer in procurement – A German dealer only pays 2 euros as a purchase price for the same hairspray.
Die Wholesale prices Due to these TSC practices, in small countries such as Austria, there are usually significantly higher than those in large countries like Germany. Incidentally, this applies to most smaller countries in Europe, including Denmark, Belgium or Luxembourg. The Federal Competition Authority (BWB) has one in your industry examination of the entire food value chain “Austrian surcharge” In branded articles of at least 15 bis 20% Compared to the German price level, which goes back to this practice of international industrial groups.
“Our Austrian dealers currently have to be procured depending on the product up to 60 percent higher prices Pay as a German dealer. This Austrian price surcharge is a pure one Chorus bid the multinational branded article industry “says Rainer Will.
TSC ban would ensure fair purchase conditions in Europe
“According to an EU study, consumers could save up to 14 billion euros a year by abolishing these delivery restrictions. Especially in economically demanding times, this would be a noticeable relief for millions in Europe-and an overdue step at fairer prices for everyone”so Barbara Teiber.
In recent years, the EU authorities have repeatedly responded with punishments against corresponding violations. The food multi Mondelez For example, in May 2024 Fine of EUR 334 million convicted of the hindrance of cross -border trade. Anheuser-Busch InBev (From inbev), the largest brewery group in the world, was already with 2019 200 million euros in fine punished. Against Procter & Gamble (P&G) Investigations of the EU competition commission Because of the suspicion of inadmissible market shuttle.
GPA & HV demand rapid implementation of the EU internal market strategy
But: by no means all practices fall under the screen of the EU cartel law. The trade association and the GPA trade union therefore welcome that the EU Commission wants to proceed against all TSCs in the future- including those that have not yet been covered by competition or antitrust law. Both GPA and HV therefore require a rapid legal implementation of the internal market strategy-at EU level and in national application.
“The announcement of the EU Commission in the internal market strategy is not yet the yellow of the egg, but at least one First step towards fairness For Austrian retail and domestic consumers: inside. It is a requirement of the hour to finally ensure the same shopping conditions for retailers in all Member States and to reduce the artificial price differences between the European countries, for which domestic trade is often wrongly criticized “is a trading spokesman Rainer Will convinced.
Territorial delivery restrictions fuel high inflation in Austria
Especially in times of high inflation – the inflation rate in Austria is 3.3% in June, according to Statistics Austria and thus again significantly above the level of Germany and the euro zone – the end of such practices would be a central step towards more fairness for Austrian retail and domestic consumers.
“Many multinational manufacturers want to stick to their country -specific price strategies at all costs – at the expense of consumers: inside. For all of us, their maximization of profits means higher prices on the shelf. It is high time to do this Discrimination to ban. That would be a significant contribution to reducing high inflation “says Barbara Teiber.