Cartel agreement of cattle breeding comopanies
“The cartel agreement led to unification of prices for these products and of course had a negative impact on cattle breeders, who had only limited choice of product from the view of price and quality. We cannot exclude that the price agreement in its final consequence also led to unnecessary increase of prices with negative impacts on final consumer. The cartel agreement and its effects related to the whole republic and the competitors together covered market share exceeding 50%,” said the Chairman of the Office, Mr. Josef Bednář.
The highest fine of half a million Czech crowns has to be paid by company Holding Českomoravská plemenářská unie, k.s., and the other sanctions are as follows: Jihočeský chovatel, a.s. – CZK 300 000, REPROGEN, a.s. – CZK 300 000, PLEBO BRNO, a.s. – CZK 300 000, AGRO – Měřín, a.s. – CZK 300 000, Plemenáři Brno, a.s. – CZK 270 000, CHOVSERVIS, a.s. – CZK 300 000, PLEMENÁŘSKÉ SLUŽBY, a.s. – CZK 300 000. The above-mentioned companies performed the anticompetitive conduct in years 1998-2001 (with the exception of company Plemenáři Brno, which performed the conduct only till the end of 2000).
The Office initiated the investigation of the case on the basis of its own initiative, when, in relation to another investigation, it succeeded in securing direct written evidence on co-ordination among the above-mentioned undertakings. “Conclusion of the cartel agreement was realised both on the basis of contracts including prohibited agreements and in form of concerted practices. It results from the minutes of the undertakings´ negotiation that they were making arrangements on prices”, added the Chairman of the Office, Mr. Josef Bednář.
Press and Information Department
2024-04-18 / Sector Inquiry on Waste Management The Office for the Protection of Competition (the Office) has initiated a large-scale sector inquiry focused on waste management. Over the next two years, the Office shall obtain information from all...
2024-04-09 / Zásilkovna will share pick-up points thanks to the intervention of the Office, more options for consumers The Office for the Protection of Competition (“the Office”) accepted commitments from an undertaking Zásilkovna s.r.o. consisting of an amendment to the contractual terms and conditions concluded...
2024-04-05 / Fine of CZK 8 million for Another Pet Food Distributor Forbiding Lower Prices By the first-instance decision, the Office for the Protection of Competition (“the Office”) imposed a fine of CZK 8,656,000 on the undertaking Dibaq a.s. for entering into prohibited agreements on...
2024-04-03 / The Office Imposed a Fine of CZK 72 million on Distributor of Moulinex, Rowenta, Krups and Tefal Products The Office for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter referred to as “the Office”) imposed a fine of CZK 72 333 000 on the undertaking Groupe SEB ČR s.r.o. for prohibited agreements on resale...
2024-02-13 / The Office Imposed a Record Fine of CZK 125 million on ELECTROLUX for Anticompetitive Conduct The Office for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter referred to as “the Office”) punished the undertaking ELECTROLUX, by imposing a fine of CZK 125 404 000 for long-term anticompetitive conduct...
2024-01-19 / The Office Will Share Its Experience Using the DATACROS Tool The results of the Datacros II project, which focuses on investigating corruption, organised and financial crime using innovative techniques, will be presented on Tuesday 30 January 2024 through a public...
2024-01-16 / The Office presented a number of possibble legislative proposals to support Efficient competition The Office for the Protection of Competition drafted a proposal of possible legislative changes. The purpose of such amendments is to increase the effectiveness of the Office, in particular the detection...
2023-11-23 / Economic Experts Shared Their Knowledge with the Employees of the Office for the Protection of Competition Last week, the Office for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter referred to as "the Office") organised a lecture on competition economics within the framework of improving the qualification and...
