The world’s leading manufacturers of fragrances and flavorings have been targeted by competition watchdogs on suspicion of price fixing. On Tuesday evening, the EU Commission announced that it had started a competition procedure in the industry, but did not name any names.
The Swiss competition commission Weko confirmed its own cartel investigation against several fragrance manufacturers. On Wednesday morning, she named the two Swiss manufacturers Firmenich International and Givaudan, the German Dax group Symrise based in Holzminden in Lower Saxony and the US manufacturer International Flavors as affected companies
Fragrances are used in the manufacture of numerous products, including in particular cosmetics and personal care products as well as detergents and cleaning products.
When asked, Symrise confirmed that it had been contacted by the European Commission in connection with investigations into possible price agreements in the fragrances and flavors sectors. But there are no details yet. Symrise cooperates fully.
Weko said there were indications “that several companies that are active in the production of fragrances (“fragrances”) have violated antitrust law”. There are suspicions that they coordinate their pricing policy, prevent their competitors from supplying certain customers and limit the production of certain fragrances.
According to Weko, there were house searches at various locations. These were carried out in coordination with other competition authorities, namely the EU Commission, the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the British Competition and Markets Authority. As part of the investigation, it should be checked whether there are actually restrictions on competition that are inadmissible under antitrust law. The presumption of innocence applies to companies.
Communication from Weko Communication from the EU Commission
