Regulations

Antitrust Regulator in France Fines Major Companies in Industry

Author Image

By: TOM BRANNA

Editor

Leading global household and personal care brands such as Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal and Unilever were among 11 companies fined a total of €951.2 million ($1.17 billion) in France, according to a report by Bloomberg. The French antitrust regulator slammed the companies with fines over allegations of a conspiracy to rig prices of products.

Cases were separate involving household and personal care categories. According to the report, L’Oréal will have to pay €189.5 million, the largest fine, while Unilever received a €172.5 million penalty.

The combined €606 million fine in the personal care industry is the highest penalty handed down by France’s antitrust arm, according to the report.

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc was fined €121 million; Henkel AG, €109.2 million; Procter & Gamble Co., €78.9 million; Beiersdorf AG, €72.1 million; Colgate-Palmolive Co., €46.7 million, and SCA Tissue France SAS, €45 million, to name a few.

Products named in the allegations ranged from shampoo to toothpaste, and involved leading brands such as Head & Shoulders and Sanex.

Keep Up With Our Content. Subscribe To Happi Newsletters