Saturday, 20 June 2020

CMA opens abuse of dominance investigation into pricing of hand sanitiser


CMA opens abuse of dominance investigation into pricing of hand sanitiser

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into suspected excessive and unfair pricing by pharmacies and convenience stores of hand sanitiser products in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and in breach of the chapter II prohibition.

The investigation follows the CMA’s setting up of a taskforce in March 2020 to monitor competition problems stemming from responses to the public health emergency.  It has received complaints that prices for some products have increased unjustifiably with the largest being a median rise of just less than 400%.

The investigation is at an early stage and the CMA has not yet issued a statement of objections.  The pattern of conduct at issue has prompted investigations by other EU competition authorities and more probes are expected to be in the pipeline.  Not all will result in a formal finding of infringement.

The CMA expects to conduct its initial fact-finding and review during June and July 2020. 

https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/hand-sanitiser-products-suspected-excessive-and-unfair-pricing




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