The European Commission informed on Monday 25 October that it had carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of a pharmaceutical company active in the field of animal health in Belgium.
“The Commission has concerns that the inspected company may have infringed the EU antitrust rules that prohibit the abuse of a dominant position. The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the Belgian competition authority”, explains the institution in a statement.
Unannounced inspections are a preliminary step in the investigation of suspected anti-competitive practices. Such inspections by the European Commission does not mean that companies are found guilty of anti-competitive behaviour and does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself. The European Commission fully respects the rights of defence in its antitrust proceedings, in particular the right of companies to be heard.
There is no legal deadline for completing investigations into anti-competitive behaviour. Their duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of each case, the extent to which the companies concerned co-operate with the European Commission, and the exercise of the rights of defence. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)