“The controls are not going to stop,” explained the Minister of Development, Kostas Skrekas, referring to the fines for unfair profiteering and revealing that six other multinational companies are under the “microscope”.
He also pointed out that from next Monday he will start a safari of checks in supermarkets for the permanent reduction signs on the shelves.
“Another six multinational companies are being audited and the audits are not going to stop. We will have no hesitation in fining anyone who violates the law. We don’t want to harm companies, we want to be a liberal government that respects the laws of the state”, stressed Kostas Skrekas, speaking to MEGA on Tuesday (08.11.23).
“The fines we imposed in the summer were collected over a period of 20 days so that the companies that violated also received the discount. As for the €2 million fines, one million for each company that violated the Unfair Profit Act, one company will pay the fine and then appeal.
The fines are collected and I must tell you that of the 7.5 million fines that have been imposed during the year, 4.5 have been confirmed or paid to the tax office. The point is not only to collect the fines, the aim is not to harm the companies. The goal is for businesses to adapt to the dictates of the law passed by our government on unfair profiteering and for households to see the prices of products decrease on the shelves,” he added.
Regarding the signs that should be placed in supermarkets and the criticism that is heard that they have not been placed in enough supermarkets, the minister revealed: “From Monday DIMEA will start checks in the supermarket stores to determine if the permanent tags have been placed price reduction as they are due or not.
Otherwise the fine will be heavy. We carry out checks all the time and compare the profit margin that the companies have in 2023 compared to 2021. If we see that they are making more profit compared to 2021 we come and impose a fine. The fine is calculated as follows: we double the difference of the extra profit”.
Regarding the observed price increase, Mr. Skrekas stated: “The price increase did not come solely from greed. The increase in prices in the previous two years happened because we had objective conditions, for example we had a war – now we have a second war – and there was also an energy crisis. Prices have decreased, durum wheat has gone to 28 cents from 32 cents, i.e. “fell” by 4 cents. the prices of bread and toast in supermarkets have been reduced.”
Asked if there will be a further reduction in prices on the shelves, the minister stressed: “We are pushing for prices on the shelves to be reduced as much as possible, we have checks for unfair profiteering, we impose fines and prices are corrected, we have the initiative of “permanent price reduction” and we also have the household basket which is renewed every week”.
According to newsit, Mr. Skrekas also commented on a report on the price of oil, where it is expected to reach 23-25 euros per liter.
“This year oil production in Greece and for the second year in Spain, Portugal and other countries that produce olive oil had extremely reduced production due to weather conditions and this is pushing up prices. Today, therefore, foreign traders come here and an auction is held in essence to buy oil from the producer.”
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