Press Release: Antitrust: Commission sends statement of objections to suspected participants in car battery recycling cartel

On 24 June 2015, the European Commission issued a statement of objections informing five lead recycling companies that it suspected them of having participated in a purchasing cartel for scrap lead-acid batteries, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

The Commission had concerns that, from 2009 to 2012, the companies participated in a cartel aimed at fixing purchase prices in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Its investigation started with unannounced inspections in September 2012.

On the same day the European Commission also fined eight manufacturers and two distributors of retail packaging trays for having participated in at least one of five separate cartels.

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

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