CMA closes investigations into excessive pricing of sanitisers

CMA closes investigations into excessive pricing of sanitisers

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has abandoned a series of investigations into excessive pricing for hand sanitiser during the pandemic barely one month from launching its probes.

The CMA announced closure of probes into two convenience stores and one pharmacy but it has an ongoing investigation into whether another pharmacy charged excessive prices for hand sanitiser.

The CMA has not disclosed the identities of the companies concerned.  It has stated that on the evidence available a competition law breach was unlikely and continuing the investigations “would deliver limited, if any, consumer benefits”.

Excessive pricing cases are always challenging for a competition authority.  It may be that despite the early case closure the opening of the investigations has had some deterrent effect.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f0c5a7d3a6f40037ed4848c/Closure_Statement_.pdf