Antitrust: Commission confirms unannounced inspections in polyurethane foam sector
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The European Commission can confirm that, starting on 27 July 2010, Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the polyurethane foam sector in several Member States.
The Commission has reason to believe that the companies
concerned may have violated European antitrust rules that prohibit
cartels and restrictive business practices (Article 101 of the EU
Treaty and Article. 53 of the EEA Agreement).
The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.
Unannounced
inspections are a preliminary step into suspected anticompetitive
practices. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections
does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive
behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.
The Commission respects the rights of defence, in particular the right
of companies to be heard.
There is no
legal deadline to complete inquiries into anticompetitive conduct.
Their duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity
of each case, the extent to which the undertakings concerned co-operate
with the Commission and the exercise of the rights of defence
source europa.eu
