Commission carries out unannounced antitrust inspections in the vaccines sector

The European Commission is carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of a company active in the vaccines sector.

The Commission has concerns that the inspected company may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit abuses of a dominant market position (Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union). In particular, the Commission is investigating possible exclusionary practices that may amount to anticompetitive disparagement.

The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities.

Background

Unannounced inspections are a preliminary investigative step into suspected anticompetitive practices. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the company in question is guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself. The Commission respects the rights of defence, in particular the right of companies to be heard in antitrust proceedings.

There is no legal deadline to complete inquiries into anticompetitive conduct. Their duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of each case, the extent to which the companies concerned cooperate with the Commission and the parties’ exercise of their rights of defence.

The Commission has recently concluded two other antitrust investigations into anticompetitive disparagement in the pharmaceutical sector, in cases AT.40588 Teva Copaxone and AT.40577 Vifor.

More information: European Commission