Anti-trust: Commission confirms unannounced inspections on biomedical analysis market - Main contents

The European Commission has confirmed that on 12 November Commission officials conducted inspections in France on the premises of a business association and an enterprise both active on the biomedical analysis market. It has reason to believe that the provisions of the EC Treaty prohibiting cartels, restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant position (Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty) have been infringed.

The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts in the French competition authority.

Inspections are a preliminary stage in an investigation of suspected anti-competitive practices. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the enterprises concerned are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour and does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. The Commission respects the rights of defence, in particular the right of companies to be heard in the Commission’s proceedings against them.

There is no strict time limit for completing investigations of anti-competitive practices. Their duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of each case, the extent to which the undertakings concerned cooperate with the Commission and the exercise of the rights of defence.