GCCA report: consumer applications up 65% in 2025, four pharmaceutical market companies fined

Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the Georgian Competition and Consumer Protection Agency (GCCA), presented the agency's 2025 activity report at a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy. Representatives of the National Competition Agency and members of Parliament attended the hearing. Lekvinadze spoke about competition enforcement policy, consumer rights protection, and enforcement of the law on anti-dumping measures.

According to the report, four investigations were completed in 2025. In two cases, abuse of a dominant position was confirmed, and in two other cases, excessive pricing was established. Four companies were fined a total of up to GEL 600,000 for violations identified in the pharmaceutical market. Another violation involved the Rustavi auto market, which was fined up to GEL 900,000.

The agency monitored various markets, including fuel, FMCG, agrochemicals and pesticides, and healthcare services. In total, monitoring of 7 strategic markets was underway. The report presents interim reports and recommendations for policy-implementing agencies.

Last year, approximately 24,000 registered concentrations were reviewed, and approval was granted for 18. The largest number of concentrations took place in the construction and building materials sector, followed by retail trade and the healthcare/education sectors.

In the consumer rights area, the number of applications submitted to the agency increased by 65%. With the agency's involvement, more than 90% of appeals were decided in favor of consumers, and citizens recovered an average of approximately GEL 1 million per year. About 70% of applications concern online trade, with clothing and electronics sales and delivery services leading the sectors. Consumers most often request a refund. Complaints are considered within one month, free of any charge.

Lekvinadze said that one of the main achievements of 2025 was GCCA securing the presidency of ICPEN, the international consumer protection network, for 2026/2027. The network brings together more than 90 countries. Within the presidency, Georgia hosted a high-level international conference in September 2026.

Lekvinadze noted that last year GCCA received international recognition and an award from the World Bank for decisions made and recommendations issued in the pharmaceutical sector that produced positive results for consumers. These cases were named among the best of the solutions presented by 40 countries. The World Bank also rated GCCA's communication strategy in consumer rights protection as the best.

Within the anti-dumping policy framework, one investigation was completed in 2025, concerning possible dumping imports of rebar from Iran and the Russian Federation. Taking into account the protective mechanisms for domestic production (tariffs) introduced by the government, the introduction of an additional tariff was not considered appropriate.

In the area of international cooperation, GCCA hosted the international conference on competition and consumer rights for the fourth time, with more than 50 international speakers from 18 countries taking part. The agency also played a leading role in events held within UNCTAD and the OECD.

In 2026, 30 years have passed since the establishment of Georgia's first independent antimonopoly authority. The report presents significant events and achievements over this period. According to Lekvinadze, the agency will continue its proactive work in strategic markets in 2026 to improve the quality of competition and ensure a high standard of consumer rights protection.