Brussels, 20/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission decided to fine four Italian tobacco processing companies a total of EUR 56 million. The companies in question are accused of colluding (illegal and secret agreement) over a period of more than six years on the prices paid to growers and other intermediaries and on the allocation of suppliers. This is the second decision of its kind after the EUR 20 million fine imposed in October 2004 on five companies (four Spanish and one Italian) present on the Spanish raw tobacco processing market (EUROPE 8811). The companies fined are: Deltafina (EUR 30 million), Transcatab (14 million), Mindo (10 million) and Romana Tabacchi (2.05 million). The Commission has also imposed lower fines on APTI and UNITAB (the Italian trade associations of processors and tobacco growers respectively) for having engaged in collective price negotiations.