Brussels, 04/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is investigating a number of companies over suspicions of a cartel in the industrial plastic bags sector. The investigation began in 2002 and on 29 April 2004 the Commission sent a statement of objections to 43 companies. These companies are owned by a smaller number of groups in Finland, France, Germany, Spain and Benelux countries, explained Amelia Torres the spokesperson for Commissioner Monti. The market involves industrial and plastic bags for packaging animal feeds, fertiliser and building materials. Out of respect for the confidentiality of companies, Torres did not say which groups were incriminated but, nevertheless, confirmed that UPM-Kymmene was being investigate, the latter had itself referred to the investigation. The companies now have eight weeks to answer the statement of objections from the Commission, which also suspects that there had been price fixing. Nonetheless, the Commission explained that at this stage of the proceedings, it could not confirm that such an agreement existed and that this would not affect the outcome of its investigation.