The government on Thursday gave its consent and a state guarantee so that the HZ Infrastruktura company can borrow 400 million kuna from the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development to reconstruct the rail infrastructure.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butkovic said the loan would be used to upgrade railways for international and regional transport.

As of January 31 this year, HZ Infrastruktura’s debt totals 1.46 billion kuna.

Amendments to law banning unfair trade practices

Also on Thursday, the government sent to parliament amendments to the law banning unfair trade practices in the food supply chain, expanding such practices from 33 to 42 and covering all unprocessed agricultural products.

The amendments are aligned with the 2019 European directive on unfair trade practices.

They also expand the scope of those to whom the law applies by lowering the total revenue threshold to 15 million kuna. Now the law applies to buyers with a turnover of over 50 million kuna, or 100 million kuna in the case of supermarkets.

Agriculture Minister Marija Vuckovic said the amendments introduced especially unfair trade practices and defined especially sensitive food products (meat, milk and dairy products, oil, sugar, flour, fruit and vegetables) as well as the end sale price for those products.

The amendments are expected to enter into force in September.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)