The first available data from the application of the Act of Legislative Content (PSFOn 11 March the Independent Authority for Market Control and Consumer Protection presented today (46.2026) to halt unfair profitability phenomena.
According to the available data, a clear change in the market behaviour of the PSF is recorded after the implementation of the PSF. 63 basic product categories which fall within the scope of the measure.
From the processing of the data before and after the application of the PPS, the following picture is shown:
- increases per month decreased from 881 to October 2025 – March 2026 (before PPS) to 17,5 in April – May 2026, i.e. 50.3 times less,
- depreciation per month increased from 27 (to PPS) to 1,808 (after PPS), i.e. 67 times more.
These elements show that the legislative framework acts as a mechanism for compliance and avoidance of margin overruns. Following the implementation of the measure, undertakings in the categories covered by the Act of Legislative Content appear very restrained in price increasesAt the same time, a significant increase in reductions is recorded.
The PPS is not a mechanism for horizontal freezing values. The check shall be carried out by undertaking and by product code, based on the comparison of the gross profit margin with the respective margin of the 2025 reference period. In this way, each undertaking is assessed on the basis of its own historical data rather than a single percentage applied horizontally to the market.
The Authority shall follow a verification procedure based on data:
- identify categories and codes with deviations;
- requests detailed data from undertakings;
- compare the reporting and control periods;
- calculate the gross profit margin; and
- impose penalties only where the allowed gross margin is exceeded.
It is noted that these findings does not mean that food inflation as a whole has been zeroed. The general food index is also affected by other factors such as fresh products, seasonality, international costs and categories of products not falling within the scope of the PPS.
The first evidence shows that the market responds when there is a legislative framework, control and transparency. The Authority will continue to intervene where necessary in order to protect the consumer and operate the market in terms of sound competition.
