Fines three companies selling baby products were imposed by the Competition Commission.

As stated in the relevant announcement:

The Plenary Session of the Competition Commission (EA), with the no. 870/2024 unanimous Decision, accepted the Dispute Settlement Proposals submitted by the companies “V. AND M. SKARMOUTSOS – CHILDREN’S GOODS TRADE SA.” (henceforth Skarmoutsos), “PHARMEX ANONYMOUS TECHNICAL TOURISM COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY” (henceforth Farmex) and “REPRESENTATIVES-TRADE OF CHILDREN’S GOODS AND GYM EQUIPMENT PERAMAX S.A.” (hereinafter Peramax) and imposed reduced fines for determining resale prices in violation of articles 1 of the law. 3959/2011 and 101 of the TFEU, of a total amount of €314,389.

OR case concerns the markets:

  • importation, wholesale and retail of pumping products and management/storage of breast milk (such as breast pumps and related accessories),
  • import, wholesale and retail trade of baby oral and nutritional products (such as, for example, feeding bottles, pacifiers) and
  • import, wholesale and retail trade of baby carriages and children’s car seats.

The companies filed a request to be included in the dispute settlement procedure in accordance with the provisions of par. 16 of no. 790/2022 decision of the EA.

The three companies involved they proceeded to resale pricing practices in the context of vertical partnership with their distribution networks. The companies systematically monitored retail prices and pressured retailers to correct their prices, with which the retailers complied. It is noted that contractual terms or practices in vertical agreements by which a distributor determines the resale prices of the products it distributes constitute a particularly serious restriction of competition.

The EA Plenary decided to accept, in accordance with the reasoning of the Reporter’s Report, the Dispute Settlement Proposals submitted by the above companies and the imposition of fines as follows:

  • in the company Skirmish a fine of 165,822 euros
  • in the company Farmexa fine worth 108,253 euros and
  • in the company Permax a fine of 40,314 euros.