Brussels, 23/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 23 March, the European Commission confirmed that it had sent a Statement of Objections to a number of companies active in the heat stabilisers sector. These companies are alleged to have participated in a cartel in violation Article 81 of the EC Treaty and Article 53 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Heat stabilisers are in solid or liquid form and added to PVC products in order to improve their thermal resistance, plasticity, rigidity, transparency and protect them from discolouring. The Statement of Objections is the first stage of an infringement procedure and involves two categories of heat stabilisers: tin stabilisers, and epoxidised soybean oil (“ESBO”)/ esters. They are used in packaging, food packaging, credit cards, bottles, coatings, flooring, artificial leather, plastic wallpaper, and other plastic products for everyday use. The chemicals company, Akzo Nobel, has announced that it is affected by this procedure and indicated that it was preparing its defence. (O.L./trans/rh)