The European Commission fined Conserve Italia Soc. Agricultural cooperative and its subsidiary Conserves France SA with a fine of 20 million euros for violating EU antitrust rules. Brussels noted that, for more than 13 years, Conserve Italia has participated with other market participants in a cartel for the supply of certain types of canned vegetables to retailers and food service companies in the European Economic Area. “The sanction that we inflict today on Conserve Italia reflects the gravity of their behavior”, commented the vice president of the Commission Margrethe Vestager.
In September 2019, the Commission had already adopted a settlement decision against Bonduelle, Coroos and Groupe CECAB for participating in the same cartel. Unlike the other three companies, Conserve Italia had decided not to negotiate. Consequently, the Antitrust investigation against the Italian group continued according to the normal procedure, reaching today’s sanction. Conserve Italia benefited from a 50% reduction in the fine for its cooperation with the investigation.
“With our decision, we can put a lid on the case of the canned vegetables cartel. Conserve Italia was the only producer to have refused the transaction, it agreed with the other participants in the agreement to divide the market and fix the prices of some canned vegetables across Europe. For more than 13 years, therefore, consumers have suffered the consequences of less competition and higher prices, “Vestager stresses.
The Antitrust Authority highlights how for over 13 years (from 15 March 2000 to 1 October 2013) Conserve Italia and the other participants in the cartel have fixed prices, agreed on market shares and sales volumes, divided customers and markets, exchanged information commercially responsive and coordinated responses to tenders. Their behavior aimed at maintaining or strengthening their respective position on the market, maintaining or increasing the selling prices charged, reducing the uncertainty about their future commercial conduct and controlling the conditions of marketing and sale, so as to exploit them to their advantage. the situation.
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Source From: Ansa
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