Commission report shows EU competition rules make markets fairer and more resilient for farmers
Today, the European Commission published a report demonstrating how EU competition rules support fair market conditions and economic resilience for EU farmers. The report covering the period from July 2017 to July 2025 EU competition rules in the agricultural sector. It focuses on exclusions from competition rules in the common market organisation (CMO) and on antitrust investigations. It also illustrates how the current framework supports the Vision for Agriculture and Food by maintaining a market-oriented agricultural sector while strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain.
EU legislation recognises specific challenges faced by farmers and provides the necessary exemptions from EU competition rules. For example, specific competition rules help farmers improve their bargaining position, manage risks and respond more effectively to market challenges. The report shows that these rules give farmers more opportunities to work together, strengthen their position in the agri-food supply chain and contribute to fairer and more resilient agri-food markets, while ensuring benefits for consumers. Among other things, EU rules allow producers and operators in the agri-food supply chain to cooperate on agreements that pursue higher sustainability standards than those required by EU or national legislation.
While these options are available, the report shows that their potential is not yet fully exploited by farmers.
Nonetheless, as shown in the report, enforcement of EU competition rules is essential to allow farmers to operate on an equal footing. This is mainly done through effective coordination between the Commission and the national competition authorities.
Between July 2017 and July 2025, the Commission and national competition authorities in the EU concluded around 110 investigations in the agricultural sector. These investigations helped address concerns in the agri-food supply chain, prevented anti-competitive practices and, where necessary, required companies to change their behaviour or pay fines. Farmers were the largest source of investigations by submitting complaints to competition authorities. Other complaints were submitted by manufacturers and retailers.
The Commission must report every seven years to the European Parliament and to the Council on the application of the competition rules in the agricultural sector, in line with CMO regulation.
