October 6, 2017
Japan Fair Trade Commission
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) today issued a caution to the JA Akan
Agricultural Cooperative (JA Akan). In this case, JA Akan was likely to be in violation
of prohibition of the Article 19(falling under the Item 5, Paragraph 9, Article 2 [Abuse
of Superior Bargaining Position] of the Antimonopoly Act (AMA).
The JA Akan was likely to be in bargaining position supplier to the members of the
Cooperative because they depended on its business, including not only joint sales
business but also joint purchase business and credit business etc., and there is no
alternative agricultural cooperative for the members in this area.
The JA Akan reduced the commission fee based on members’ shipment to the JA Akan
and, at the same time, introduced the new levy based on whole shipment and sales
amount of each member. It brought the same burden as before for the members who ship
agricultural and livestock products to the JA Akan. Meanwhile, it brought the extra
payment according to shipment volume for the members who ship them to others than
JA Akan.
Such conducts of the JA Akan unreasonably brought the disadvantage on the members
who shipped to the others and was likely to adversely affect the fair and free competition.
＊Every announcement is tentative translation. Please refer to the original text written
in Japanese for more details.
