Serbia block exemption regulations have been updated through four new regulations, marking the most significant reform of the Serbian competition law framework in more than a decade.
The Government of Serbia has adopted four new regulations governing the categories of agreements exempted from the prohibition of restrictive agreements under Serbian competition law.
The new regulations entered into force on 28 March 2026 and modernise Serbia’s block exemption regime, particularly in relation to vertical agreements, technology transfer, motor vehicle distribution and aftersales arrangements, and rail and road transport sector agreements.
Serbia Block Exemption Regulations: Overview
The reform introduces or updates block exemption rules for the following categories of agreements:
- Vertical agreements, including distribution, supply, resale and franchise-type arrangements.
- Technology transfer agreements, including licensing and IP-related commercial arrangements.
- Motor vehicle sector agreements, including repair, maintenance and spare parts arrangements.
- Rail and road transport sector agreements, covering sector-specific vertical arrangements in transport.
While the vertical agreements regime replaces the previous Serbian framework, the remaining sector-specific regulations introduce more detailed rules in areas that were previously less developed under Serbian competition law.
Key Changes for Businesses Operating in Serbia
The new regime introduces several important changes relevant for companies active in Serbia, particularly those using EU-based distribution or licensing templates.
Market share threshold increased to 30%
The market share threshold for block exemption of vertical agreements has been increased from 25% to 30%, aligning Serbian rules more closely with the EU Vertical Block Exemption Regulation framework.
Shared exclusivity expressly recognised
The new vertical agreements regime allows suppliers to appoint up to three distributors per exclusive territory or customer group, reflecting the EU approach to shared exclusivity and providing more flexibility in distribution structures.
SME threshold increased
The annual turnover threshold relevant for certain small and medium-sized undertakings has been increased from EUR 2 million to EUR 8 million, expanding the practical relevance of the block exemption regime for smaller businesses.
Six-month transition period
Vertical agreements concluded before the entry into force of the new regulation must be aligned with the new rules within six months, i.e. by 28 September 2026.
Practical Implications
The reform reflects developments in modern distribution models, including online sales, digital platforms and hybrid distribution structures.
For international groups operating in Serbia, the main point is not only substantive alignment with EU rules, but also the remaining procedural distinction under Serbian law.
Unlike the EU regime, Serbia has not moved to a full self-assessment model. Agreements falling outside the scope of block exemptions may still require individual exemption approval from the Serbian Commission for Protection of Competition.
This means that EU-standard agreements cannot simply be rolled out in Serbia without local competition law review.
MVJ Insight
Serbia’s new block exemption regulations are a material step towards closer harmonisation with EU competition law.
However, the reform does not eliminate the need for local Serbian competition law analysis. In practice, we expect increased focus on distribution structures, platform models, online sales restrictions, hybrid arrangements and cross-border templates applied in Serbia without sufficient localisation.
For businesses operating in Serbia, the six-month transition period should be used to review and, where necessary, update existing commercial agreements.
Authors: Marko Jovković, Senior Partner, Dušan Đorđević, Senior Partner
