Romania's Competition Council has fined Agrana Sales & Marketing GmbH, Agrana Romania SRL and Lucsor Impex SRL a total of 52.09 million lei (approximately EUR 10.22 million) for fixing sugar sale prices on the Romanian market.
According to a press release released by the competition watchdog on Monday, Agrana Sales & Marketing GmbH and Agrana Romania SRL, which are treated as a single economic entity, were fined 42.18 million lei, while Lucsor Impex SRL received a fine of 9.91 million lei.
The Competition Council found that the companies agreed on the sale prices of sugar by determining every component of Lucsor Impex's selling price, including its commercial margin, which should have been set independently. As a result, Lucsor Impex's selling prices followed the same trend as those applied by Agrana, according to Agerpres.
According to the authority, the arrangement was intended to increase or at least maintain sugar prices in Romania above the level that would have resulted under normal competitive market conditions.
Agrana Sales & Marketing GmbH and Agrana Romania SRL acknowledged breaching Romania's Competition Law and received a reduced fine as a result.
The Competition Council also closed its investigation into Pfeifer & Langen Romania SRL, saying it had found insufficient evidence of an infringement to justify sanctions.
Under Romanian competition law, agreements or concerted practices that prevent, restrict or distort competition, including direct or indirect price-fixing arrangements, are prohibited. Competition Council decisions are enforceable, with fines collected by the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF). The authority said it will publish its decision after removing confidential information.
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