Press Release: Antitrust: Commission fines producers and distributors € 115 865 000 for operating retail food packaging cartels

On 24 June 2015, the European Commission fined eight manufacturers and two distributors of retail food packaging trays a total of €115 865 000 for having participated in at least one of five separate cartels.

The eight manufacturers were Huhtamäki of Finland, Nespak and Vitembal of France, Silver Plastics of Germany, Coopbox, Magic Pack and Sirap-Gema of Italy and Linpac of the UK. The two distributors were Ovarpack of Portugal and Propack of the UK. Linpac benefited from full immunity under the Commission's 2006 Leniency Guidelines as it revealed the existence of the cartels to the Commission.

The European Commission's investigation started with unannounced inspections in June 2008. The Commission issued a statement of objections in September 2012 and carried out an oral hearing in June 2013.

ESO: Background information: Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections to suspected participants in retail food packaging cartel http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-antitrust-commission-sends-statement-of-objections-to-suspected-participants-in-retail-food-packaging-cartel/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/15/5260, 24.06.15: Fighting cartels - Commission sanctions retail food pacakging cartel and sends Statement of Objections in suspected car battery recycling cartel http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5260_en.htm

---